You know as well as I do that brushing isn’t going to fully clean your gums and mouth. We just try to convince ourselves (myself definitely included).
It is great having medical insurance, even necessary, but when was the last time you met with your dentist? Did you know that you can increase your health substantially by having routine checkups?
These days, routine checkups are often looked upon as painful ways to use your money. All too often individuals feel like they can take a break from their dentist by brushing a tad harder or flossing a bit more, but ultimately, our teeth aren’t clean and we know it. There have been piles of research collected to prove exactly that; when we clean our teeth with a tooth brush or floss, we are missing several areas in our mouth that can’t be reached or fully cleaned without the aid of our friendly dentists. By the way, I am not being indorsed by some dental company to write this (although it sure did seem like I had some affinity for the dental industry in the above sentences), however, I am writing this to keep you informed on some information that I have recently come across. This blog is entirely for the employers and employees that keep this nation running, so hopefully this post will help you keep on keeping on. So, what did I recently come across that can affect your dental habits?
We all know that periodontitis (gum disease) can cause even more severe diseases throughout the body (if you didn’t, aren’t you glad you read this?) but did you know that gum disease can also increase medical costs and risks to individuals who have certain chronic diseases?
In a study by the very well respected and recognized Marjorie Jeffcoat DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine), it appears that when individuals with chronic diseases (specifically, diabetes, cerebral vascular disease, or coronary heart disease, and the one non-disease, pregnancy) visited their dentists and were diagnosed with periodontitis (gum disease) and treated, their overall health care costs dramatically went down (after accounting for the effect of diabetes). What this means to you or your employees (also, a loved one or anyone that you would like to inform), is that their dental care is highly important for both their health, and their wallets (and for business owners, perhaps your wallets as well).
How Much Savings are we talking?
In the magazine, “California Broker. Angling for Ancillary Benefits“, they had a great section regarding the actual cost savings acquired by those with the chronic conditions (and pregnancy) when they went to their dentist and were treated for periodontitis (gum disease). On page 23, it reads,
“Specifically, periodontal treatment was associated with statistically significant decrease in annual medical costs of 40.2%…[for] patients with diabetes; 40.9%… for those with cerebral vascular disease; 10.7%… for those with coronary artery diseases; and 73.7%… for those who became pregnant.”
Those are some immense benefits to both user health care and savings. Perhaps now, if you have a chronic condition and brush your teeth and floss daily, are thinking; “Well, I don’t have periodontitis (gum disease); I am a healthy hygienic person!”
You very well can be, and I am not saying you do have gum disease, but here is another shocking statistic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; 2014) – nearly 50% of Americans have periodontitis (gum disease). That means if you are an American, you have a 1 in 2 chance or having gum disease. Personally, I thought that statistic was from a majority of certain parts of the country that didn’t fully recognize dental health as much as other parts of the country (some areas do have higher risks for periodontics than others), but recently a friend of mine, who is lucky enough to be from Santa Barbara, California, got a checkup and was diagnosed with periodontitis. He loved brushing his teeth, was raised to brush his teeth, had an income that easily afforded dental checkups, and ate organic health food like it was going out of style; I was absolutely shocked with the diagnosis. He later told me that he had missed an appointment and that he had not been to the dentist in nine months. He is a testament that even if you are healthy, brush your teeth, and grew up in a affluent area such as Santa Barbara were you can have easy access to a dentist, you are still at risk for gum disease.
What should you take out of this?
It is in your best interest to not skip medical routine checkups, including dentist cleanings. If you have a chronic disease listed above, or are pregnant, hopefully you will see the value in visiting your dentist, and if you are an employer, hopefully you will see why offering dental insurance could increase your retention and acquisition. I hope this post was informative and you found what you were looking for, have a great day!
References:
Bramson, James, D.D.S. “Angling for Ancillary Benefits” California Broker. Vol 32, Number 9. June 2014: 23. Print
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Oral Health. June 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/OralHealth/periodontal_disease/index.htm
Jeffcoat, M., et. al., Periodontal Therapy Improves Outcomes in Systemic Conditions, Abstract, American Association of Dental Research, March 21, 2014
Additional Disclaimer – Although I am an Insurance broker and a professional in the field, the Health Care laws are ever-changing, especially in the age of the Affordable Health Care Act, and the laws, information, opinions, or understandings that I have written about may be obsolete by the time you come across them and I take no legal responsibility for what actions you may or may not take because of it. To keep yourself safe, please seek updated professional advice, because changes are happening and I would like to keep everyone safe from any misleading or dead information. Please check out the “Terms and Conditions” page for more information and/or bookmark my blog for upcoming changes and updates to the ACA. Thank you for reading, and have a great day!