Association Between Employee Dental Claims, Health Risks, Workplace Productivity, and Preventive Services Compliance

Preventive dental care is associated with improved health care outcomes and reduced costs for Medicaid members with diabetes

Introduction

Preventive dental services have been associated with improved health outcomes. This study expands on previous observations by examining the relationship between oral health care and health care outcomes and costs in a publicly insured population with diabetes.

Methods

Utilization of dental services, health care outcomes and costs were evaluated for New York State Medicaid members with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM), ages 42 to 64, who were continuously enrolled between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2015. Utilization of dental services focused on preventive dental care (PDC), and extractions and endodontic treatment (both indicative of advanced dental infection). Data were analyzed using regression models with propensity score weighting to control for potential confounding.

Results

Receipt of PDC was associated with lower utilization rates and costs compared to members who did not access dental services. The most pronounced average cost difference was observed for inpatient admissions at $823 per year for members who had at least one PDC without extraction or endodontic treatment. Each additional PDC visit received was associated with an 11% lower rate of inpatient admissions and lower average inpatient costs by $407 per member. The need for a dental extraction or endodontic therapy was associated with relatively higher rates and costs.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate an association between PDC and improved health care outcome rates and lower average costs among members with DM and suggest a general health benefit associated with provision of preventive dental care for persons with DM.

Oral Health: Opportunities for Lifestyle Medicine Highlighted by the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

A significant amount of illness has origins in oral microorganisms. The current SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) pandemic has reduced the general population's access to and use of routine and nonemergency dental care. This creates a dangerous situation in which oral bacteria, fungi, and viruses may remain unchecked and allowed to flourish, which in turn increases risks for several systemic diseases as well as negative outcomes for pregnancies and surgical patients. This situation presents opportunities for health maintenance and disease prevention by individuals as well as for dental health professionals to use anti-infective treatments and procedures. Lifestyle medicine professionals have a chance to encourage behaviors that individuals can undertake to promote good oral health outside of the dentist's office as well as shaping public perceptions about and reinforcing the importance of resuming dental visits as governmental restrictions allow.

Demographics, Preventive Services Compliance, Health, and Healthcare Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Employed Adults

OBJECTIVE

This study examined demographics, health risks and conditions, preventive services, and health care experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) adults who are employed in the United States.

METHODS

Male and female gay, lesbian, or bisexual employees (N = 1191) from seven companies participated in an online survey.

RESULTS

Differences were observed in the characteristics of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals on a number of demographic, health, and preventive services measures. Differences were also seen compared to previous studies about LGBTQ adults in the general population.

CONCLUSIONS

Employers have a vested interest in making sure their employees have access to quality health care that addresses their unique needs. There is much room for improvement in this area, since a large percentage of respondents reported negative health care experiences, avoiding or postponing care, and difficulty finding an LGBTQ-experienced healthcare provider.

Diabetes and Oral Health: Summary of Current Scientific Evidence for Why Transdisciplinary Collaboration Is Needed

This Perspective provides a brief summary of the scientific evidence for the often two-way links between hyperglycemia, including manifest diabetes mellitus (DM), and oral health. It delivers in a nutshell examples of current scientific evidence for the following oral manifestations of hyperglycemia, along with any available evidence for effect in the opposite direction: periodontal diseases, caries/periapical periodontitis, tooth loss, peri-implantitis, dry mouth (xerostomia/hyposalivation), dysbiosis in the oral microbiome, candidiasis, taste disturbances, burning mouth syndrome, cancer, traumatic ulcers, infections of oral wounds, delayed wound healing, melanin pigmentation, fissured tongue, benign migratory glossitis (geographic tongue), temporomandibular disorders, and osteonecrosis of the jaw. Evidence for effects on quality of life will also be reported. This condensed overview delivers the rationale and sets the stage for the urgent need for delivery of oral and general health care in patient-centered transdisciplinary collaboration for early detection and management of both hyperglycemia and oral diseases to improve quality of life.