Did you know the mouth is a window to the body?
Often, signs of certain diseases will appear in the mouth before they appear elsewhere, which means that a dental checkup could detect more than a cavity. Most oral health problems are preventable, so encouraging employees to take the extra steps in preventive care could save your company not only dental expenses, but it could also cut down on health care costs. - Heart disease and stroke accounted for $242 billion in health care expenditures in 2005.2
- Diabetes accounted for $132 billion in health care expenditures in 2002.3
- Preterm births accounted for $26 billion in health care expenditures in 2005.4
Each year, Americans lose 164 million work hours due to dental-related problems.1 Fortunately, most dental disease is preventable. That's why United Concordia offers Smile for Health® dental benefit options that are designed to cover both the preventive care and diagnostic services necessary to maintain a healthy mouth and a healthy body.
Benefit Options Include:
Enhanced Dental Benefit
The Smile for Health® Enhanced Dental Benefit: - Includes an additional cleaning during pregnancy
- Increased coverage for nonsurgical periodontics
- Additional dental diagnostic tests
- Expanded preventive dental services for periodontal patients
This benefit option is ideal for groups who understand that prevention is the key to staying healthy, both in mouth and in body. Refer to the Enhanced Dental Benefit Flyer for more details on how these benefits are designed to improve members' oral and overall health.
Maternity Dental Benefit
Periodontal disease has recently been linked to premature and low birthweight babies.1 In addition, the changes in hormone levels due to pregnancy can exaggerate the gum's reactions to oral bacteria, causing tender, swollen and sensitive gums (pregnancy gingivitis). The Smile for Health® Maternity Dental Benefit provides women with an extra dental cleaning during pregnancy, which can help to prevent or treat these conditions. Refer to the Maternity Dental Benefit Flyer for more details.
- Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General, 2000.
- American Heart Association, 2005.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005.
- National Academy of Sciences, 2007.
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Make a change. Increase your group's coverage where it matters most.
Help your employees protect themselves against oral infections that may lead to serious medical conditions. Contact your United Concordia Representative or regional sales office to inquire about the Maternity Dental Benefit or the Enhanced Dental Benefit.
We also offer members and the public our Smile for Health® Dental Health Center
Full of valuable information on the links between oral health and overall health, our Dental Health Center also offers a range of tips on preventive care for the entire family, Dental Health 101 articles, Dental Health 911 articles, a Kids' Corner, and more!
Check it out!
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