The dental health of patients should be treated as high of a priority as other parts of healthcare, according to Matthew Weissman, MD.
Dr. Weissman is chair of the department of medicine at the Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Downtown locations in New York City and is also a professor of medicine and pediatrics at Mount Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine. He recently spoke with Becker's about the importance of integrated medical-dental care.
Editor's note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What are your thoughts on medical-dental integration? Is dental care a priority in your specialty?
Dr. Matthew Weissman: Although dental school and medical school are separate, and although many insurance companies make a distinction between oral health care and healthcare, the two are really intertwined. As a physician, I see patients all of the time who have dental problems that they can't afford to correct. For example, my patients with cavities and broken or missing teeth may have trouble eating, which makes their overall health worse, and they may be embarrassed by their appearance, which can limit their willingness to socialize or their confidence in applying for jobs. People with gum disease are at higher risk of heart attacks and strokes, and people with diabetes are at higher risk of gum disease.
I think there is an increasing realization of this connection and the potential benefit of encouraging dental care. We are fortunate in New York State, where state Medicaid includes dental care, both for prevention and for treatment. As a primary care doctor, trained in both internal medicine and pediatrics, I firmly believe in the need for dental care as a high priority as part of healthcare. When I see patients for their annual physicals and discuss preventive medicine, just as I suggest that they get their vaccines and we check the appropriate lab tests, I encourage them to see the dentist.