| The Doctors at Lux have maintained a tradition of promoting oral health. Besides deliveing excellent care, we feel an obligation in protecting and maintaining the oral health of the public. For years now, we have taken an active role in our community, and will continue to do so. |
ORAL HEALTH & OVERALL HEALTH
Oral health is about so much more than the health of your teeth. It also encompasses the health of your gums, tongue, throat and entire mouth. Traditionally, dentists have focused primarily on teeth. However, dentists and other medical professionals have become increasingly aware of the relationship between systemic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and pneumonia and the health of one’s mouth.
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), 7.8% of the population, 23.6 million children and adults in the U.S., have diabetes. Diabetes can be fatal and was the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2006. Recent studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between diabetes and periodontal disease. Periodontal disease affects the structures supporting teeth including the gums, the bone and the connective tissues. Symptoms include bleeding gums, loose teeth, odors and severely receding gums. A large evidence-based study in 2006 demonstrated that diabetes is associated with the severity and extent of periodontal disease. It has been suggested that periodontal disease may negatively impact the control and severity of diabetes.
According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in the U.S., responsible for 35.3 percent of all deaths. Several studies have also found evidence of a relationship between cardiovascular disease and periodontal disease.
Certain bacterial pneumonias, particularly “ventilator-associated pneumonia” in institutionalized patients, are also related to poor oral health. Similarly, studies have shown that periodontal disease and maternal gingivitis are risk factors for preterm birth and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.
While we expect to continue to find additional correlations between oral health and overall health, we already have ample evidence that the health of the mouth has a direct connection to the health of the rest of the body. An infection in the mouth will eventually affect the rest of the body. Other diseases can also be caused or exacerbated by active oral diseases.
Strategies for maintaining overall health include brushing teeth three times a day, routine use of dental floss, and management of one’s diet. Also, regular visits to the dentist are critical since they provide an opportunity for a thorough examination to ensure that your entire mouth is clean and healthy. A dental visit is even necessary for individuals with restorations or dentures so that your dentist can continue to monitor and evaluate your dental treatment.
Routine dental visits are also important so that your dentist may perform an oral cancer screening. This is particularly critical for tobacco and alcohol consumers. According to the American Oral Cancer Foundation, one American dies every hour from oral cancer. Oral cancer is often detected at late stages where the primary tumor has already spread. However, if detected early, oral cancer is treatable and curable.
Clear evidence demonstrates that a healthy mouth serves as an essential element and indicator of overall health. Therefore, it is imperative that we work towards the goal of ensuring that all Americans have access to dental care as a key component of overall access to health care.
In an effort to close the Massachusetts budget gap, it has been proposed to cut the MassHealth adult dental benefit, eliminating coverage for all services except preventative care and extractions. This would force patients with major dental problems to seek care in hospital emergency rooms, a much more expensive alternative than receiving regular dental care in a dental office. It would also force Dentists to perform supervised neglect on Patients who need health critical treatment.
For the past few years, the Massachusetts Dental Society has worked to recruit more dentists to become MassHealth providers, increasing access to dental care for those who need it the most. It is disheartening to see the state threatening to take away what has taken years to build. Removing the dental benefit will be more expensive in the long run and will have a significant negative impact on the state of oral health and overall health in the Commonwealth.
As a Dentist who has treated MassHealth patients since 2002, I believe that these cuts will cause irreversible damage to 700,000 of the most vulnerable Massachusetts residents.
I urge the Legislature to reconsider the funding of the MassHealth adult dental benefit.
Respectfully,
Dr. Abdul Abdulwaheed DMD, MAGD, ABGD, FAAHD
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