National Diabetes Month is meant to raise awareness of the drastic increase in diabetes in our nation. With more than 20 million people living with the disease in the United States alone, it’s important to learn how your benefit providers can aid in your health management.
Connecting Oral Health and Overall Health
Evidence Based Dentistry (EBD) is an approach to designing dental benefits based on scientific research that points to an association between an individual’s oral health and their overall health. Emerging evidence shows a correlation between the treatment and prevention of periodontal disease on improving overall systemic health. These effects could impact some of the nation’s most prevalent, debilitating and costly conditions, such as diabetes, pre-term and low-birth-weight babies, heart disease and stroke. Delta Dental believes so strongly in the association between oral health and overall health that we’ve enhanced our dental plans to include additional preventive services for patients with certain health conditions.
Through Delta Dental, you can get coverage for up to four teeth cleanings or periodontal maintenance cleanings per benefit period instead of the typical two. Specific high-risk health conditions that are eligible to receive enhanced EBD preventive benefits include:
People with diabetes who have periodontal (gum) conditions
Pregnant women who have periodontal conditions
People with cardiovascular disease who have periodontal conditions
People with kidney failure or who are undergoing dialysis
People with suppressed immune systems due to:
Chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment
HIV-positive status
Organ transplant
Stem cell (bone marrow) transplant
Delta Dental of Colorado requires that the treating dentist provide information on the claim form regarding the patient’s medical condition. For diabetics, pregnant women and those with cardiovascular disease, the dentist will also need to submit appropriate documentation regarding the periodontal condition.
If you have any of these conditions, you might want to look into the extra preventive benefits provided by Delta Dental.