Dental health is one of the most important aspects of your overall health, yet for many it’s often the most neglected.
Tooth decay is the most prevalent chronic condition in adults and children.
Periodontal disease (gum infection) affects 42% of adults (ages 30 years of older).
There are 57 possible systemic diseases being studied in connection to periodontal disease including: Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes (including GLP-1 Usage), Pregnancy Complications, Kidney Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and others.
Problems With Today’s Dental Care Model
Oral Health Is Siloed and Stuck Between Dental and Medical Plans
- Outdated attitudes toward dentistry have kept treatment buried inside dental plans
Dental Care Is Not Patient Centric
- Mouth is treated separately from the whole body
- Ignoring the correlation between medical and dental costs billions of dollars annually
Challenges of Access to Dental Care
- Dental benefit plans are in many cases barriers due to cost and lack of access
- Shortage of dentists and dental hygienists in many areas of the US, including rural and lower income communities (“dental deserts”)
- Difficulty obtaining desirable appointment times, particularly for periodic dental diagnostic visits and cleanings
Savings Achievable through Improved Oral Health
$641 PMPY
Savings
A 5-year study by Cigna indicates that at least $641 PMPY of direct health care savings can be achieved through improved oral health.
$459 PMPY
Savings
Another study indicated that at least $459 PMPY of direct health care savings can be achieved through improved periodontal health alone.
$286 PMPY of
Lost Productivity
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) untreated oral disease translates to $286 PMPY of lost productivity due to poor oral health.
$8 to $50
Savings
For every dollar spent on preventive dental care, $8 to $50 can be saved in restorative and emergency treatments (and considerably more in additional medical treatments).
