Inclusion of Dental Services in Medicare to Improve Oral and General Health for Older Americans.

Poor oral health negatively impacts overall health, quality of life, and well-being. Increasing evidence suggests that provision of basic dental care for elderly Americans would improve outcomes for a variety of systemic diseases and reduce the overall cost of healthcare. As a result, recent changes have been implemented to include some dental benefits in the Medicare program.

Spending on emergency care due to nontraumatic dental conditions in the United States, 1996 through 2016.

Background: Emergency department (ED) use for oral health care is a growing problem in the United States. The objective of the study was to describe spending on ED visits due to nontraumatic dental conditions (NTDCs) in the United States and to quantify changes in spending and its drivers.

Methods: Spending estimates for ED visits due to NTDCs according to type of payer were analyzed for the period from 1996 through 2016 and estimates about the drivers of change were analyzed for the period from 1996 through 2013.

The dilemma of different dental degrees: DDS and DMD.

Although the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) evolved from the surgical and the Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) from the medical (DMD) roots of the dental profession, dental schools in the US currently award both degrees, verified as equivalent by finding no differences between them in standards of admissions, accreditation, or state licensure requirements while continuing to be subjectively perceived as different enough to create professional and public confusion. In contrast, Doctors of Osteopathy (DOs) and Doctors of Medicine (MDs) are both objectively and subjectively perceived as different in philosophy and healthcare training while objectively passing similar examinations to be licensed as physicians. Following from the history of both dental degrees and their implications for training and dental practice, the objective of this manuscript is to update the scientific, socio-political, and professional reasons for awarding only the DMD for future graduates while continuing to recognize the contributions of DDS graduates to oral healthcare.

Current Concepts in the Management of Periodontitis.

Periodontitis is a common disorder affecting >40% of adults in the United States. Globally, the severe form of the disease has a prevalence of 11%. In advanced cases, periodontitis leads to tooth loss and reduced quality of life.

Prevention and management of periodontal diseases and dental caries in the older adults.

As a result of aging populations, in the future, dental practitioners will be caring for more older adults than ever before. These older adults, especially in developed countries, will demand a greater number of dental services, driven by increased tooth retention and an expectation of excellent oral healthcare throughout the life course. Further, the global rise in the prevalence and incidence of chronic diseases will increase the risk and/or severity of oral diseases and add a layer of complexity to the management of oral diseases in older adults.

A composite score to assess the burden of periodontal diseases and tooth loss.

Background: Population studies of the prevalence of oral disease rely upon indices that summarize disease status. There is no universally accepted index that summarizes the burden of periodontal diseases, considering the number of teeth remaining in the mouth.

Methods: A new conceptual index was developed that includes consideration of the extent and severity of the periodontal diseases, the distribution of affected teeth, and tooth loss as a function of age.

Does Medicaid Coverage Modify the Relationship between Glycemic Status and Teeth Present in Older Adults?

Understanding the relationships among diabetes, teeth present, and dental insurance is essential to improving primary and oral health care. Participants were older adults who attended senior centers in northern Manhattan (New York, N.Y.

Better-quality diet is associated with lower odds of severe periodontitis in US Hispanics/Latinos.

Aim: We investigated the cross-sectional association between diet quality and severe periodontitis in a sample of diverse Hispanics from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.

Materials And Methods: A total of 13,920 Hispanic/Latinos aged 18-74 years of different heritages underwent a full-mouth oral examination and completed two 24-hr dietary recalls during 2008-2011. Severe periodontitis was defined as having ≥30% tooth sites with clinical attachment loss ≥5 mm.

A simple self-report health assessment questionnaire to identify oral diseases.

Background: One approach to addressing oral health disparities for at-risk populations has been to increase discussion of oral health by non-dental healthcare providers. This study examined the accuracy of a simple instrument to detect individuals with a history of dental disease, which would then allow referral for an oral health evaluation.

Materials And Methods: A two-question instrument was evaluated for the relationship to oral diseases, periodontal disease, and decayed, missing and filled teeth in 391 individuals seen in a dental school clinic for non-emergent dental care over a 3-month period.

Evaluation of medical and dental visits in New York City: Opportunities to identify persons with and at risk for diabetes mellitus in dental settings.

Objective: The identification of persons with or at risk for chronic diseases is a new practice paradigm for oral healthcare. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease of particular importance to oral health providers. This study sought to understand healthcare utilization patterns that would support the introduction of this new practice paradigm.

Oral Health Care in the Future: Expansion of the Scope of Dental Practice to Improve Health.

The health care environment in the U.S. is changing.

Cost-effectiveness of diabetes screening initiated through a dental visit.

Objective: To analyse the cost-effectiveness of a screening programme and follow-up interventions for persons with dysglycemia who are identified during a dental visit.

Methods: This study is a secondary analysis utilizing data from two relevant publications. Those studies identified persons with dysglycemia who were seen in a dental school clinic for routine dental care and determined compliance with a recommendation to seek medical care.