Chairside Screenings Reduced Health Care Costs

Chairside Screenings Reduced Health Care Costs - Blog - Sparkle Dental - reduce-health-care-costsYou Health Starts In Your Mouth - More Reasons To See Your Dentist

Chairside screenings from Sparkle Dental, a leading dentist in Warren MI, may help to reduce health care costs by diagnosing chronic medical conditions before they become more serious.

Screenings by dentists for common chronic medical conditions can save the United States health care system hundreds of millions of dollars each year, according to a new study conducted by the American Dental Association. This study estimates that substantial short-term health care cost savings would result when dentists and other oral health professionals perform chronic disease screenings.

While millions of people visit a dentist each year, they may not visit a physician during this time. Because of this, dentists have the unique opportunity to help combat chronic illnesses. Since the mouth is said to be the window to the body, dentists can contribute to reduced health care costs in America by screening for hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Screenings in dental offices can lead to savings of over $100 million, or $33 per person screened, as well as healthier outcomes for patients.

According to the CDC, or Centers for Disease Control, half of all adults in America suffer from chronic illnesses, accounting for more than 75 percent of health care costs, as well as 70 percent of deaths every year. In addition, chronic diseases are estimated to cost the country more than $150 billion yearly in lost productivity.

Preventative dental care is essential to maintaining optimal health. Regularly visiting Sparkle Dental, PLC a premier dentist office in Warren, MI can help to diagnose and prevent chronic health conditions. In addition, regular trips to the dentist can detect oral health problems before more expensive, comprehensive treatment is required.