.jpg)
This
week we discuss that while Americans are gaining dental coverage, they still
aren’t getting treated, we learn that tooth decay is linked to risk of kidney
disease, and we discover a toothbrush that makes brushing your teeth fun! Don’t
forget to check out our Movember blog post to learn more about the
relationship between men’s health and dental health, and our new blog series, Why it Matters to Me. Join the
conversation on Twitter using #FridayDentalDL.
1. Financial
hurdles remain for dental care: Americans are gaining dental coverage
through the Affordable Care Act, but according to the dental community, the
health care law isn't doing enough to Medicaid to improve reimbursement rates
for the care. According to the American Dental Association, approximately 8.7
million children – and about 800,000 adults – could gain extensive dental
coverage through the ACA by 2018. A barrier to access dental care is the lack
of private dental offices that accept Medicaid or limit the number of Medicaid
patients.
2. Cardiologists
have knowledge gaps about perio disease: A new study in the Journal
of Dental Hygiene looked at cardiologists' knowledge of the relationship
between periodontal disease (tooth decay) and heart disease and found that many
were unclear about the cause of periodontal disease. Over the past several
years, new evidence has shown links between tooth decay and diabetes, adverse
pregnancy outcomes, and heart disease. The majority of physicians who
participated in the study agreed it is important for cardiologists and
periodontists to work together to educate their patients about oral systemic
disease risks.
3. An
entrepreneur’s vision for dental hygiene: Tooth brushing as an immersive
experience: Alex Frommeyer, CEO
of Beam Technologies, plans to shake up the world of tooth brushing with the
Beam Brush, a platform connecting consumers with their toothbrush, dental goods
and services. The electric toothbrush tracks brushing activity through its
partnered iOS and Android app. The app collects behavioral data, such as
brushing time and movements. It also keeps score for families to compare and
share. The updated brush, scheduled to come out December 1, 2014, becomes a
remote control for several games, including a horizontal scrolling game with
obstacles similar to Mario. This feature allows users to play a game on their
app with their tooth brush – engaging them in a mission to brush their teeth
for 2 minutes without getting bored.
4. Periodontal
disease linked to increased risk of kidney disease: In a study of African-Americans with normal kidney
function, those with severe periodontal disease developed chronic kidney
disease at four times the rate of those without severe periodontal disease,
according to a presentation at the recent American Society of Nephrology
meeting in Philadelphia. Researcher Dr. Vanessa Grubbs noted that because
periodontal disease is common and can be prevented and treated, targeting it may
be an important path towards reducing existing racial and ethnic disparities in
chronic and end-stage kidney disease.