Contemplating
Dental Benefits Lower
Healthcare Costs
Start In The Dentist’s Chair
by Dr. Preddis Sullivan

Employers and employees are always looking for ways to reduce healthcare costs. Of course, the best remedy for costly health procedures is to prevent the conditions. Employers would love for employees to get regular preventive exams to detect costly and potentially deadly conditions, such as diabetes, pre-term and low weight births, and cardiovascular disease. The bad news is that the average employee with health coverage only gets a preventative exam every two years, which tests for markers for these conditions.

The good news is that, as an insurance broker, you can educate your clients on how to encourage employees to get these preventative exams twice a year without requiring the employee to make any extra effort. It can be done through their regular dental exams.

Employees who have dental coverage see their dental provider an average of every six months. In addition to keeping their teeth and gums healthy, these exams can lead to the detection of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. They can also help prevent the complications of pre-term and low births. Studies are now showing a link between these conditions and periodontal (gum) disease.

Cardiovascular Disease
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center measured bacteria known to cause periodontitis (a more severe form of gum disease) and other bacteria in the mouths of more than 600 people aged 55 and older with no history of stroke or heart attack. The scientists also looked at the thickness of the carotid arteries, which are the two major arteries on each side of the neck, which supply blood to the brain. Thickening of the carotid arteries can lead to stroke and heart attacks. The results showed a clear link between the bacteria that cause serious gum disease and thicker carotid arteries. It is not as strong a risk factor as smoking or cholesterol and is a higher for stroke than for heart attack. Also, the more teeth that are affected by periodontal disease, the higher the risk is. Receiving periodontal treatment reduces the risk of inflammation and bacteria.

Diabetes
Here are some Diabetes statistics:
• 20.8 million Americans have diabetes
• 14.6 million are diagnosed and 6.2 million are undiagnosed
• 7% of the total population has diabetes and 9.6% of adults over age 20 have it.
• The prevalence increasing every year in all demographic groups.
As an infection, periodontitis increases the risk of poor blood sugar control in people with diabetes. Periodontal treatment, such as scaling and root planing, often improves blood sugar control.

Preterm Babies
Complications resulting from premature labor are the primary cause of pre-term and low weight births. These complications are the result of the body’s reaction to inflammation. Periodontitis can be a major culprit since it is an inflammatory disease.

Severe periodontitis increased risk of pre-term low weight births by seven and a half times, according to study by the Center for Oral and Systemic Diseases and UNC School of Dentistry. Women with generalized periodontitis had a four to seven times higher risk of having pre-term babies than did women without the disease, according to a study by Dr. Marjorie K. Jeffcoat. Receiving periodontal treatment during pregnancy reduces the risk of preterm and low birth weight delivery by three to five times, according to a study by the Department of Conservative Dentistry.

In order to prevent pre-term and low weight births, all women of childbearing age should have regular and thorough dental and periodontal exams. The woman and her dental team should establish and maintain periodontal health. Also, pregnant patients with chronic periodontitis should have thorough debridement during pregnancy.

Some dental carriers believe preventing this condition is so important that they have established a pregnancy benefit, which increases oral hygiene benefit for pregnant women.

If your clients do not offer dental coverage, educate them on how regular dental exams can reduce healthcare costs by serving as an additional preventative measure against diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and preterm and low weight births. Make sure the dental carrier you present to them offers a pregnancy benefit that increases oral hygiene. If your clients have dental coverage, instruct them to have their dental provider check the markers for these conditions at every exam. Informing your clients of these preventive measures will reduce their cost of healthcare and strengthen the valuable relationship that they have with you, their broker.
––––––––––
Dr. Preddis L. Sullivan DDS, MBA, is dental director for Blue Shield of California. He graduated from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in 1985 and has been in the insurance industry for 17 years. For more information, call 415-229-6747.