Periodontal Disease
There have been numerous studies done in the past linking Periodontal Disease with Diabetes, Stroke, Pregnancy Premature baby. One of my goal is to ensure all my patients are educated properly and bring awareness so that oral health is maintained at highest levels.
The article published by Miles Hall, DDS in DentistryIQ summarizes the link between Periodontal Disease and Other health issues. The article also summarizes statistical analysis completed by Cigna Dental with the data available between Dental and Medical claims.
Periodontal disease may have a potentially significant impact on systemic health, and the implications for cost of care and quality of life can be staggering.
In 2013, Cigna published a national study, (1) analyzing its own medical and dental claims among other factors, that highlights an adverse association between untreated periodontal disease and higher medical costs for individuals with diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Some insights by condition include:
- Diabetes. Individuals with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people without diabetes, because they are more at risk of getting infections. Inflammation that starts in the mouth may weaken the body’s ability to control blood sugar. The estimated economic cost of diabetes in 2012 was estimated at $245 billion, a 41% increase over a five-year period. More than one in five health-care dollars in the United States is spent caring for someone diagnosed with diabetes. (2)
- Cardiovascular disease or stroke. Periodontal disease and heart disease are often present together. Up to 91% of patients with heart disease have periodontitis, compared to 66% of people with no heart disease. The two conditions have several risk factors in common, such as smoking, unhealthy diet, and excess weight. And some suspect that periodontitis has a direct role in raising the risk for heart disease as well. (3)
- Pregnancy and prematurity. Pregnancy can increase the risk for periodontal disease because of hormonal changes and can worsen existing dental problems. Several studies have shown that periodontal disease may increase the risk for low birth weight and preterm labor. The medical costs that businesses pay to care for one premature baby for a year could cover the costs of 10 healthy, full-term infants ($49,000 vs. $4,550). When combined, maternity and first-year costs for a premature baby were four times as high as those for a baby born without any complications ($64,713 and $15,047, respectively). (4)
Source: http://www.dentistryiq.com/
