Case for Integration

  • teeth

    Bringing the Mouth Back into the Body

 

Studies indicate that including dental benefits within primary care coverage will increase wellness and reduce overall healthcare costs.

 

Oral health is vital to general health, well-being and quality of life.

The links between oral and systemic health are becoming increasingly clear. Studies show bidirectional connections between periodontal disease and diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and other chronic conditions. Periodontitis in pregnant women is associated with preeclampsia, preterm birth and low birth weight babies. Oral health issues can lead to malnutrition and childhood speech problems.

Research conducted by the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and our partners points to key benefits from integrating oral health and medicine. These include more frequent screening for associated diseases, improved quality of life, and cost savings to the overall healthcare system. Quality of life issues include the ability to chew, smile, interact socially, or attend work or school without pain.

Most insurance plans offer dental benefits as separate and elective, rather than included in primary healthcare coverage. Therefore millions of people pay multiple premiums or forgo dental coverage. Others visit a dentist while skipping the physician. Because periodontal and other diseases are connected and share common risk factors—diet, hygiene, smoking, alcohol use, stress and trauma—it is imperative to adopt a holistic, collaborative and integrated approach to health care.

The HSDM Initiative to Integrate Oral Health and Medicine was founded to advance an integrated approach to oral health and medicine. With Initiative support, HSDM is developing and testing innovative models of integrated education, training and care delivery. Other activities undertaken by the Initiative include research, policy statements, conferences and seminars.

Learn how we are addressing the issues.