Dental Health Impacts All Spheres of Life

According to the Delta Dental Oral Health and Wellbeing Survey, more than 160 million work hours are lost every year due to problems with dental health. The survey suggested that around one in six Americans have missed work because of issues with oral health.

The poll also showed that more than one in every four Americans said they are suffering from oral health issues that they want to be addressed by a dental health care provider but they don’t have the ability to pay for the work. According to the US surgeon general’s report, dental care is connected with the well-being of the person as well as one’s productivity. When the oral health is ignored, the person has to deal with suffering and pain that could lead to severe complications. The social and financial costs of oral health could lower the quality of life and burden society.

Around eight of every 10 Americans with dental coverage go to the dentist at least once a year. Only half of people who don’t have dental coverage visit the dentist yearly. The link between dental coverage and dental visits has not surprised the public but the numbers showed that Americans with coverage are more likely to get preventive care.

Most Americans don’t know that affordable dental coverage is available for small businesses and individuals. The Affordable Care Act doesn’t require dental coverage among adults and there are now more coverage options available. Individuals can now enroll for dental coverage and don’t have to wait for the open enrollment next year.

Coverage and prevention are vital for any dental health program. Americans who go to the dentist at least once a year are 22 percent more likely to report an improvement to their emotional and physical health compared to those who don’t visit the dentist.

Photo by Jamar X Perry [Public domain], undefined