SOUND
ORAL HEALTH PRACTICES CAN POSITIVELY IMPACT
PHYSICAL HEALTH. REGULAR DENTAL VISITS MAY
BE KEY TO DISEASE DETECTION
PARSIPPANY, NJ --
For close to four years, "Karen"
couldn't lie flat, sleep on her left side and
tired very easily. After repeated visits to
various medical doctors and hospitalizations,
it was her Periodontist,
Harvey S. Nisselson, D.D.S., of Denville, who
discovered the cause during a head and neck
exam: an enlarged thyroid. When another patient
came in for a routine cleaning, highly inflamed
gums were Dr. Nisselson's clue to diabetes.
The glucose tolerance test for which Dr. Nisselson
referred the patient confirmed his suspicions.
Luckily, Dr. Nisselson is not alone. In fact,
he is living proof of the findings in a landmark
study by Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA)
that established a link between good dental hygiene
and overall oral health. Breakthrough information
from the Institute of Dental Research has uncovered
that routine dental visits can help the early
detection of serious, physical illness throughout
the body. Making regular visits to the dentist
is an essential means of maintaining overall
good health.
"More than 120 disease symptoms can now
be detected through a routine oral exam," said
D. Scott Navarro, D.D.S., and vice president,
Professional Services and Dental Director, Delta
Dental of New Jersey, Inc. "Obviously, regular
dental visits are more important than ever --
not only for oral health, but for overall physical
well-being. Hopefully, this new information will
encourage individuals to routinely see their
dentist for regular check-ups."
The correlation between oral health and disease
prevention places an added value on the role
of dental benefits. According to DDPA,
individuals with dental insurance are more than
twice as likely to maintain a routine for oral
hygiene, including regular visits to a dentist,
than those lacking such coverage. And, in light
of this new research, those with dental coverage
have a greater opportunity at early detection
of ailments such as diabetes, heart disease,
premature births and strokes -- all in the course
of a routine dental exam.
Diabetes, in particular, is a common, chronic
illness which can be detected in the course of
a dental exam. According to the Institute of
Dental Research, more than 25 percent of the
650,000 new cases of diabetes reported each year
are first uncovered during a dental exam. Similarly,
research indicates that women diagnosed with
dental infections are at greater risk of giving
birth to premature, low-weight babies.
The newfound link between oral hygiene and overall
physical health has raised new concerns for those
who don't have dental insurance and, therefore,
don't have access to regular oral examinations.
Currently, there are more than 150 million Americans
who don't receive any type of dental benefit,
and may not be receiving appropriate oral health
care.
"Not only are they at greater risk for
advanced oral disease and decay, they are less
likely to identify some serious physical illnesses
in the early stages," said Navarro. "Dental
coverage can help make such care affordable and
available for individuals who would otherwise
have to go without it."
Delta Dental Plan
of New Jersey, Inc., is the state's leading
and largest dental benefits carrier, providing
coverage to more than one million people
in New Jersey and Connecticut. The Delta
Dental Plan system is a national network
of independently operated, not-for-profit
dental service corporations specializing
in providing dental benefits programs for
employee groups throughout the country.
Delta Dental Plans Association,
based in Oak Brook, IL, is a national network
of independently operated not-for-profit dental
service corporations specializing in providing
dental benefits programs to 28 million Americans
in more than 31,000 employee groups throughout
the country.
