When it comes to the employee benefits that small, medium or large-sized business owners offer to their staff, they have various decisions to make in regard to the type of coverage that they want their workers to have. For example, a big consideration is if plans should include dental, enabling individuals to maintain good oral health thanks to plans providing for the cost of cleanings.
A recent study suggests that including employee dental benefits may be business owners' best move financially.
Published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers found that the continued management and treatment of gum disease was related to health care cost savings, particularly for those with certain chronic conditions, as well as women who were pregnant.
More specifically, the study revealed that the treatment of gum disease was associated with "statistically significant decreases" in annual medical expenses of more than 40 percent for people with diabetes, 41 percent for individuals with cerebral vascular disease and close to 11 percent for those with coronary artery disease.
The AJPM analysis also revealed that annual medical costs were nearly 74 percent lower for women who became pregnant and were managing gum disease.
"I'm pleased that the American Journal of Preventive Medicine has decided to publish the study I've conducted," said Marjorie Jeffcoat, D.M.D., at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. "This study shows reduced hospitalizations and health care costs are possible when individuals with gum disease and at least one chronic condition, or who are pregnant receive treatment for their gum disease. Having the study peer-reviewed speaks to the importance of the findings and the credibility of our work."
Gum disease associated with other health maladies
Though gum disease may seem like a condition that's confined only to a person's oral health, it can have an adverse impact on a person's well-being in other ways as well. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, researchers were largely unanimous in the opinion that the spread of harmful bacteria was what linked gum disease with other health conditions, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. However, further inquiry found that the association was likely more related to inflammation, the body's natural response to injury.
Other systemic diseases that people with gum disease may be at an increased risk for include osteoporosis, respiratory disease and cancer.
Advisory services firm KPMG International recently released the first part in its "What Works" series, which details how health care services can see improvements and lower costs at the same time. Mark Britnell, chairman of KPMG's global health practice, noted that the administration of health services needs to be more proactive, rather than reactive. This is best achieved through greater patient engagement, where individuals play a larger role in maintaining or improving their well-being.
Ed Ginlat, KPMG national sector leader for health care and life sciences, added that health care organizations need to make the patient more of a priority. As a result, they may need to redesign their administration system in order to achieve that.
