An Analysis of Dental and Medical Claims Data
In this article in The Journal of the American Dental Association, CareQuest Institute researchers found that overall health care costs were reduced in both Medicaid patients (14% less) and commercially insured patients (12% less) with diabetes who had received periodontal treatment within the previous two years.
Gum Disease and Diabetes
There is a well-established and bi-directional link between diabetes and periodontal (gum) disease. Approximately 10% of the entire US population has diabetes (diagnosed or undiagnosed), and the risk of developing both diabetes and periodontal disease is increased for patients with lower socioeconomic status, such as those who receive health care coverage through Medicaid. The authors write:
“Expanding Medicaid benefits to include comprehensive periodontal treatment has the potential to reduce health care costs for patients with diabetes.”
Read the article in The Journal of the American Dental Association (open access)
You may also be interested in:
- Another Billion Reasons for a Medicare Dental Benefit, a research report that finds that including periodontal treatment in Medicare has the potential to save up to $14.5 billion annually for patients with diabetes.
- The Role of Algorithms in Oral Health Care and Disease Prevention and Management, a research report that analyzes consumer and provider attitudes about using digital health tools to predict chronic conditions, like diabetes, and provide more personalized care.
- Integrating Diabetes Screening into Oral Health Care, a recorded webinar that features oral health providers sharing the workflow they use to connect patients with diabetes to medical care.