Preventive dentistry could not only save the lives of patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease, but save them hundreds of dollars, according to a Mayo Clinic-led study published in the Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry.
The study, published in March, defined preventive dental care as regular exams, cleaning and nonsurgical periodontal treatment and examined the costs of care for people with diabetes or coronary artery disease.
The study found that the average annual savings cost for patients receiving at least annual dental care compared to patients who received no dental care were as follows:
- Patients with diabetes saved $549
- Patients with coronary artery disease saved $548
- Patients with both diabetes and coronary artery disease saved $866
"Interestingly, the greatest cost savings came from reduced use of inpatient services," Dr. Borah said. "So, in essence, a healthier mouth was associated with less hospitalizations. This saves money, but more importantly, patients remain healthier," said Bijan Borah, PhD, a health services researcher at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.