This study by CareQuest Institute, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, found that people with cardiovascular disease (CVD) who had four or more periodontal visits had nearly 10% lower overall medical costs than those with CVD who received no periodontal care.
Read plain language summary
Additional findings include:
- People with CVD who had one to three periodontal visits had an 8% decrease in prescription drug costs.
- While 40% of adults aged 30 and above have periodontitis (gum disease), more than 80% of the patients with cardiovascular disease in this study did not receive periodontal treatment.
- The observed reductions in health care costs associated with periodontal treatment could be even greater given the high incidence of periodontitis across the US population.
The authors write:
These results underscore the relevance of integrating oral health into chronic disease management and indicate that greater access to periodontal care may be associated with economic and health benefits.”
Read the article in Frontiers in Public Health (open access)
You may also be interested in:
- The Heart of the Matter, a visual report exploring the relationship between cardiovascular (heart) disease and periodontal (gum) disease.
- Periodontal Treatment Associated with Decreased Diabetes-Related Treatment Costs, an article in The Journal of the American Dental Association finding that overall health care costs were reduced up to 14% in patients with diabetes who received periodontal treatment.
- Another Billion Reasons for a Medicare Dental Benefit, a report finding that including periodontal treatment in Medicare could save up to $42 billion in health care costs for patients with diabetes and heart disease.