Progress Toward Oral Health Access for All

Guest blog post by Dr. Michael Monopoli

Advocates and our government system are making great strides in breaking down systematic barriers to oral health care access. As noted in the Oral Health Matters July 2 post, “Working Together for Oral Health,” there are many organizations and advocates across the nation collaborating to create initiatives aimed at better access to oral health care. Real people are coming together with common goals and creating conditions where individuals and groups with different perspectives feel comfortable working together to create a positive change for oral health. 

In January, The DentaQuest Foundation is opening two new grant opportunities—an expansion of the Oral Health 2014 Initiative and the launch of an Innovation Fund for Oral Health. Each will be introduced during a webinar in January 2013. Nonprofit organizations interested in joining a national network of committed stakeholders working together to promote systemic change in oral health should plan to attend the webinars to gain a shared understanding of how we can partner together.  

Oral Health 2014 –Building Local Leaders for National Impact is a multi-year, strategic investment that is fostering state and local collaboration focused on improving oral health of underserved people. Launched in 2011, the Oral Health 2014 Initiative currently encompasses 18 state organization participants. The DentaQuest Foundation is expanding Oral Health 2014 with potential funding available for up to 10 new grantees to begin the planning phase of the initiative within their states. 

A webinar will be held on January 8 from 2 to 3pm ET to discuss this opportunity. You can register for the webinar at this link: https://ww4.premconf.com/webrsvp/register?conf_id=1447307.

The Innovation Fund for Oral Health –Supporting Inventive Strategies to Promote Systems Change in Oral Health represents a unique opportunity for inventive nonprofit organizations to create systems change that reduces and eliminates barriers to access to oral health care services and promotes community-based prevention strategies. The DentaQuest Foundation emphasizes a holistic approach to innovation, supporting work with existing organizations and programs in new ways and develop new strategies to produce results. 

Interested organizations should join us on January 9, 2013 from 2 to 3pm ET to learn more about this new DentaQuest Foundation investment opportunity. Registration for the Innovation Fund for Oral Health launch webinar can be found here: https://ww4.premconf.com/webrsvp/register?conf_id=6704120. 

It’s rewarding to see how the work of DentaQuest Foundation grantees and others across the nation that are transforming the ways people are approaching oral health care. These efforts show us that, although we have a way to go in creating a shared understanding of how to prevent oral disease among those who provide care, those who write health policies, those who finance care, and those who teach health education and prevention, a movement toward oral health access for all is well underway.  

Dr. Michael Monopoli is Director Policy and Programs for the DentaQuest Foundation.

Join the Movement for Oral Health

By Michael Monopoli, DentaQuest Foundation Director of Policy and Programs

Dental disease isn’t usually top of mind in the national conversation about health care. However, it is a serious, chronic, infectious illness—and it is preventable. Consider this:

• Dental disease (cavities) is the most common chronic disease in children, more common than asthma.

• Every year across the United States, children miss 52 million school hours due to dental disease. Adults lose close to 164 million work hours.

• In 2010, Americans spent $106 billion on oral care.

Part of the challenge in changing the dental delivery system and expanding access is that too often, people don’t have access to continuing care in a way that maintains oral health. The DentaQuest Foundation is focused on educating people about the centrality of oral health to overall health.

Through a series of grants, the foundation is doing all it can to fix this problem and promote good oral health. Most recently, the foundation announced that five additional state/regional primary care associations (PCAs) have been selected to participate in the Strengthening the Oral Health Safety Net Initiative, a national program instituted in fall 2011 to promote oral health access at community health centers (CHCs) across the country. In total, the initiative engages 10 state/regional PCA partners to develop their capacity to provide oral health leadership and technical assistance to safety net programs in their states.

CHCs are America’s health safety net, serving 23 million patients in more than 8,000 communities. They provide preventive and primary health care services to people that face financial, geographic, language, cultural, and other barriers to receiving care. The grants will promote oral health leadership, develop oral health expertise, encourage collaboration among dental and medical programs, and advance safety net oral health needs at the state level. Each award consists of grant funds plus direct practice improvement technical assistance for safety net dental programs provided in-kind by the Safety Net Solutions team of the DentaQuest Institute, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the DentaQuest Foundation.

But, it’s the ripple effects of these initiatives that are critical. When communities work together, powerful change can happen, which is why we are excited to welcome these five new PCAs to the Strengthening the Oral Health Safety Net Initiative. Together, we can change how people respond to a preventable disease.

Why is National Diabetes Month Important to Oral Health Professionals?

Guest blog post by Dr. Linda Vidone, DentaQuest Dental Director and Periodontist

This month marks National Diabetes Month, an important month designated by the American Diabetes Association to focus the nation's attention on the issues surrounding diabetes and the many people who are impacted by the disease. During November, most efforts by health professionals surrounding Diabetes Awareness Month concentrate on nutrition, self-care, weight loss and other common methods to avoid or improve people’s management of diabetes.

While these health considerations are important, often overlooked is the strong link between oral health and diabetes. Despite research showing people with diabetes are two to three times more likely to have more destructive forms of periodontal disease than people without diabetes, caring for the mouth when treating diabetes is often disregarded by physicians, who tend to focus on other more noticeable diabetes complications.

This is particularly alarming because new data from the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), published in the August 2012 Journal of Dental Research, revealed more adults have periodontal disease than dentists originally thought.  While most surveyed dentists believed 30% of adults suffered from periodontal disease, the new data shows one out of every two American adults aged 30 and older today suffer from periodontal disease.

Here are some other surprising facts and figures from the report:

• Over 64 million Americans have some form of periodontal disease.
• In adults 65 and older, the rate of periodontal disease increases to 70 percent. 
• Rates of periodontal disease are especially high among current smokers, those living below the federal poverty level, and those with less than a high school education.

The CDC National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey will continue to watch for periodontal disease in U.S adults through the 2014. This information will guide public health policy decisions including prevention and treatment recommendations. 

As noted in the study, early detection of periodontal disease is important and your oral health care provider can help you manage diabetes impact on oral health.  If untreated, however, periodontal disease infections can lead to serious health problems.

Should you be worried?

• Are your gums puffy?
• Do you spit out blood when you brush or floss your teeth?
• Do you have bad breath? 

These are all signs of periodontal disease. Talk to your oral health care provider if you experience any of them, particularly if you have diabetes.

Most importantly, celebrate American Diabetes Month with us and spread the word to someone you know about the connection between diabetes and oral health. For more information about diabetes, visit American Diabetes Association website at http://www.diabetes.org. 

Sneaky, Spooky Snacking- Don’t Get Tricked

By Dr. Linda Vidone, Dental Director, DentaQuest

Halloween is around the corner. Between picking out costumes, jack-o-lantern carving, and stocking up on treats, it’s hard not to get excited.

In the midst of the fun and fantasy, however, it’s important to remember that Halloween is a particularly spooky time for teeth.

Candy, particularly in large amounts, contributes to tooth decay. Tooth decay occurs when the sugars in candy and other sweets mix with bacteria in the sticky plaque that constantly forms on teeth to produce acid, which can wear away enamel. Chewy, sticky treats are particularly damaging because not only are they high in sugar, but they stick to teeth and are more difficult for saliva to get rid of them. Often, it takes a gentle scrubbing with a toothbrush to remove the sticky stuff. Hard candies are tough on teeth too because kids tend to suck on them at a leisurely pace for an extended period of time. Think of it as a sugar bath for teeth.

Does this mean children shouldn't eat candy on Halloween? Of course not.

Dentists understand holiday treats are a fact of life, and don’t expect kids to completely avoid candy on Halloween. Here are some simple ways to keep you and your children safe from cavities. 

• A good, healthy meal prior to trick-or-treating may mean kids are less likely to gorge on candy.

• Enjoy the candy in moderation. Chocolate dissolves quickly in the mouth and can be eaten easily, decreasing the amount of time sugar stays in contact with teeth. Consider limiting the remainder of the stash, to a piece or two a day-- especially the sticky, gummy, candy corn and chewy choices (and that includes raisins and other sticky fruits). 

• Be sure to brush your teeth before going to bed. It is important to remove the sugars that can do damage overnight.

I see Halloween as a good opportunity to teach children about making sensible choices and taking care of their teeth. If they eat the candy, encourage them to brush (for two minutes) especially after sugary/starchy/sticky snacks --and don’t forget to floss every day too.

Happy Halloween! 

Health Plans: How Reform-Ready Are You?

By Steve Pollock, DentaQuest Chief Operating Officer

The healthcare landscape is changing fast. In little more than a year, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will require pediatric oral services as one of 10 mandatory categories of essential health benefits. This means that 23 million children across the country who currently do not have dental coverage will begin enrolling in oral health plans in 2014.

So what are the implications of this federal mandate on health plans? What components of dental benefit plan design, both front- and back-end do you need? And how do those managing health plans implement these changes?

On Oct. 16, DentaQuest addressed these questions and more when the New York Health Plans Association (NYHPA) hosted a webinar to give its members some perspective on the topic.  Though specific to healthcare reform in New York, the webinar addressed the broad effects of pending ACA mandates and what organizations should be doing now to prepare themselves for 2014.

In New York for example, 2.4 million children are currently without dental coverage and 79,000 are expected to enroll through the state’s health insurance exchange. This is new territory for most plans. However, we are one of the few dental administrators in the nation with experience in an exchange program. Drawing on that experience, the webinar gave New York health plans information to start developing their roadmap for this aspect of healthcare reform and what to look for in a dental partner.

Among plans throughout the country, awareness of the pediatric mandate has risen during the last year from 50% to 75%, and those tasked with managing these plans are starting to make important decisions about expanding the benefits they will offer. Our research shows most health plans view the upcoming changes to healthcare as an opportunity to provide their members with new benefit options and to expand their business.

Via the webinar, participants looked for guidance to assess opportunities in their market, to identify how dental benefits might provide a competitive advantage, and how to conduct an internal assessment to determine whether their current model will support dental benefits. They reviewed the data, asked questions of Dr. Rob Compton, Bob Lynn, and Arlene Saffron, and by the end of the webinar were armed with information to build a strategy for incorporating or expanding their dental program, while also meeting the ACA’s pediatric dental mandate.

We know health plans are feeling regulatory and competitive pressures. But we view the challenges of healthcare reform as a chance to share our insights as a reform-ready partner working across the full spectrum of consumers on and off exchanges, whether group and individual, Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, or the dual-eligible population. Oral health is an essential part of good overall health, and we know the coming year is one of great change – for the better. Are you ready? We are. Let’s talk.

Clicking in to Oral Health

By Steve Pollock, DentaQuest Chief Operating Officer

We’re always looking for better ways to share DentaQuest’s innovations and improvements in oral healthcare. Our latest step forward is DentaQuest’s new website, which integrates DentaQuest’s corporate, government and mid-Atlantic websites and microsites with state-specific information, and more. This streamlined, updated web presence allows DentaQuest to bring concise, accurate oral health information to everyone who works with us: healthcare providers, benefits administrators, clients, members and people interested in good oral health.

We know dental benefits and oral healthcare are complex matters. We also know how vitally important it is to provide the information you need, exactly when you need it. We’ve revamped DentaQuest.com to be an efficient, easy-to-understand road map to better oral healthcare and benefits administration. 

First-rate service. Clear, concise information about oral healthcare management. Educational resources that forward our mission of “Improving the oral health of all.” DentaQuest is working – every hour of every day – to keep these goals at the forefront.

Since the new site was released in August, we’ve already seen visitors to the site increase by 55 percent. We hope the new website continues to bring in new viewers as we keep making improvements to serve you better.

What do you think? Tweet us @DentaQuest.

How Do We Integrate Value into Oral Healthcare to Consistently Improve Health?

By Dr. Rob Compton, Vice President, Business Intelligence, DentaQuest

Energized by the ongoing discussion of healthcare in America, we are witnessing an unprecedented shift in the way we think about care management. 

A particularly hot topic is the definition of value within the context of healthcare. How do we determine that optimal intersection of quality and affordability? And, perhaps most importantly, how do we – whether benefits providers, healthcare professionals, or patients – integrate value into oral healthcare in a way that consistently improves the health of the individual?

We know more care doesn’t necessarily equal better care, and that preventive measures haven’t always received their due. But the old mindset of “drill and fill” is fading fast. The question now becomes: what next? If we have the opportunity to create a new paradigm for oral healthcare, what does that look like and how do we manage it?

This is a challenging time – but one full of opportunities for innovation.

One such innovation is the way we are engaging all as partners in the goal of better health. This new, collaborative approach to oral healthcare rests on a foundation of proactive partnership between dentists, patients, and benefit providers. By offering enhanced benefits for higher-risk patients, data reports and a prevention-focused incentive program for our health care providers, along with educational resources for members, we’re seeing movement to better lifelong oral health.

This approach already is playing a vital role in care management. In a Massachusetts study involving a commercial PPO program, reports were sent to participating PPO dentists that identified patients who were more vulnerable to dental disease. Using these “Patient Prevention” reports, participating dentists were rewarded for their extra efforts to provide those patients with appropriate preventive care. After 12 months, collected data show a significant increase in the percentage of higher-risk patients in the program receiving recommended preventive treatments. 

The chart above shows the one-year results of what I believe is a breakthrough system of care. Children ages 6 to 18 who have had cavities are receiving fluoride treatments at an increase of 30%. Similarly, we’ve seen a 30% increase in the number of adult patients with gum disease who are receiving periodontal cleanings every six months. 

The numbers achieved so far through this collaborative approach focused on quality and value in care embodies our mission of “Improving the oral health of all.” We know dental disease is almost completely preventable, and we’re committed to eradicating it through best practices of prevention and early treatment. I’d invite you to find out more on the DentaQuest website.