According to the Surgeon General, 164 million work hours are lost each year due to dental-related illnesses in adults, and kids miss approximately 51 million school hours each year due to oral health issues. Preventive dental care can reduce the occurrence of more costly dental issues. A healthy smile is important – not only to oral health but for overall health, too.
Routine exams help prevent a multitude of health issues and illnesses because dentists can detect 120 signs and symptoms of diseases** before they become major problems. In fact, routine dental exams can detect the first warning signs for 90% of all systemic diseases*, including heart disease, diabetes and even cancer.
Having dental coverage helps members get the care they need to stay healthy. It also can help keep overall health care costs down. After all, good health starts with a healthy smile!
*Academy of General Dentistry, “Dental Care and Oral Health Information You Need,” web.
**James W. Little et al., Dental Management of the Medically Compromised Patient (St. Louis: Mosby, 2012).