True or False: Research shows that over 90 percent of systemic diseases have oral indicators, such as swollen gums or dry mouth.
If you said true, you are correct! A routine dental exam is important not just for the health of our teeth, but for maintaining overall health as well.
Too often, visits to the dentist are put on the back-burner, especially if someone is without dental insurance. It’s obvious that individuals will pay a price without insurance, but as an employer, what’s the real cost a company pays if it doesn’t offer dental benefits?
As mentioned, many systemic diseases have oral indicators. Dentists can spot symptoms of heart and kidney disease, oral cancer, diabetes, and more. Symptoms such as loose teeth, bleeding gums, swollen gums or dry mouth could be an indication that something is wrong. Diagnosing a systemic disease early can help reduce medical costs and potential emergency care.
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, over 20 million work days are lost due to dental illness. Routine dental exams are vital for preventative care. Dentists check for cavities, gum disease and assess overall oral health. Having access to routine care could dramatically decrease the number of work absences, as dental issues could be addressed during the regular visit, and not when a problem arises.
More than 75 percent of Americans over 35 have some form of gum disease and don’t know it. Treating a dental disease early is most effective and least costly. Having dental coverage that covers two dental visits a year can detect problems sooner and hopefully eliminate the disease or minimalize progression.
VBA dental plans are administered and underwritten by TruAssure and are offered in association with the DenteMax Plus dental network arrangement, which includes participating dentists from the United Concordia, DenteMax and Connection dental networks in all states but North Carolina, where the DenteMax Plus network arrangement includes DenteMax and Connection dental networks.