Dental and Medical Integration
The numbers are in, and they tell a compelling story of the value of integrating dental and medical coverage. The truth is that oral health is vital to the overall health of your workforce – and your bottom line.
The real cost of poor oral health
Annual preventive care = lower annual medical costs
A recent study shows that by having at least one preventive dental visit each year, participants with diabetes and/or coronary artery disease (CAD) had significantly reduced annual medical costs.4
Two Blues are better than one
Having both dental and medical coverage with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) is not only better from an administrative perspective. It’s better for employee health as well.
We’re able to spot employees with diabetes or coronary artery disease (CAD) who are behind on preventive dental care and reach out to them through regular care-gap reminder communications.
"Adherence Type = 0” means the participant DID NOT have at least one preventive dental visit over the course of the study. “Adherence Type = 1” means the participant DID have at least one annual preventive dental visit over the course of the study.
Why dental health matters
Better Oral Health = Better Diabetes Control
The connection between gum disease and diabetes is clear. If you have diabetes, you’re at higher risk for gum disease.5 Research shows that people who have gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels as well.6 What means when your gums are healthier, it’s also easier to manage your diabetes.
Better oral health = lower heart attack risk
Studies show that gum disease is associated with heart disease.3 In fact, those with gum disease are about twice as likely to have a heart attack than those without. Some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke might be linked to the inflammation and infections that oral bacteria can cause.7 By keeping your mouth healthier, you’ll help keep your heart healthier as well.
Awareness is key to adherence
Many people don’t realize there’s a connection between their oral health and total health. To help you educate your workforce on the benefits of adhering to regular dental exams, we’ve put together a flyer (in both English and Spanish) for distribution or posting.
If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of integrating dental and medical coverage, contact your authorized Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina representative.
Disclosures:
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Source: heart.org/en/news/2022/08/11/health-conditions-a-dentist-might-find-that-have-nothing-to-do-with-your-teeth (Accessed October 2022).
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Source: weforum.org/agenda/2022/03/dental-health-costs-employers/ (Accessed October 2022).
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Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7027895/ (Accessed October 2022).
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Source: aegisdentalnetwork.com/cced/2022/03/association-between-preventive-dental-care-and-healthcare-cost-for-enrollees-with-diabetes-or-coronary-artery-disease-5-year-experience (Accessed November 2022).
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Source: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29502214/ (Accessed September 2022).
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Source: mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20047475 (Accessed October 2022).
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Source: health.harvard.edu/heart-health/gum-disease-and-heart-health-probing-the-link (Accessed October 2022).
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