Are you eligible for additional cleanings?

In the last 20 years, there has been mounting evidence  of the correlation between gingival health with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, heart disease, pregnancy/infant birth weight, and more. The same blood runs through your gums, as your heart, as your brain, so it seems obvious that inflammation in one site will have effects in other areas. Oral health is directly linked with systemic health.

In the future,  I hope to go into detail on the oral health link for each of these diseases but for now, I want to share the good news that dental insurances are finally putting that knowledge to action by offering additional benefits to those with comorbid conditions.

In 2017, check to see if your Delta dental plans allow members with diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, or stroke to be eligible for enhanced wellness dental benefits when they self-enroll their condition on their Delta Dental account.

If you have been diagnosed with:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• HIV/AIDS
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Stroke

You may be eligible for enhanced benefits that include 100% coverage for:

• One scaling and root planing procedure every 12 months
• Four dental cleanings every 12 months ( vs. two dental cleanings every 12 months)

I hope to see additional insurance companies recognise the benefits of a healthy smile by offering enhanced benefits to make it easier for patients to achieve their best oral health.

As a dentist, I advocate for my patients , but I’ve found that ultimately it is the words and actions of subscribers and their human resource departments that are the most efficacious at demanding insurance changes. So spread the word! :D