Happy Holidays from DentaQuest

DentaQuest would like to wish you a happy and safe holiday season!

It has been a great year and we want to thank all of our colleagues and partners for their work to improve the oral health of all in 2013.  We thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of our most popular blog posts this year.

1. Let’s start with our post on dental office safety, which outlined key questions you should ask your dentist to ensure that you are being treated in a safe (and sanitary) environment each time you visit.

2. Probably the biggest news in health care this year was the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Check out why we believe it is so important that pediatric dental was included as 1 of the 10 essential health benefit. All children should have access to dental care as part of maintaining good oral health, so we are committed to working with the dental community and policymakers to ensure that all children have this benefit.

3. Third, we met Dr. John Luther, our new Senior Vice President of Dental Management and Chief Dental Officer at DentaQuest. Our readers loved meeting the new member of our team through his blog post.

4. We also learned about the danger of parents putting their child’s pacifier in their own mouth to clean it, which can transfer harmful bacteria into their child’s mouth and ultimately cause cavities. Early tooth decay can quickly put kids at a lifelong disadvantage.

5. And last, our favorite blog post of the year featured our new infographic, which displays key facts about oral health in America. Did you know that dental disease is five times more common in children than asthma?

We hope you enjoyed following our blog this year and we look forward to bringing you even more informative and engaging posts in 2014. 

Let’s Keep the Spotlight on Pediatric Dental

By: Fay Donohue

Photo Credit: NY Moms World Blog

Most of the media coverage around the Affordable Care Act (ACA) recently has focused on the problems with Healthcare.gov and marketplace websites, so I was happy to read an article in the New York Times this week about pediatric dental benefits. I’ve written before about pediatric dental; Catherine Saint Louis’ New York Times article highlights both why it is so important that all children have access to dental benefits and what steps we need to take to make that a reality.

In the United States, children miss 52 million school hours per year because of dental problems. Dental disease is the most common chronic disease of childhood - five times more common than asthma. The ACA provides an unprecedented opportunity to improve children’s access to dental care. However, the way it is being implemented is creating challenges that may prevent it from achieving that goal. Currently, families purchasing insurance outside of the new marketplaces will be required to purchase pediatric dental benefits. The rules for purchases through the marketplaces do not require you to include dental insurance in your “shopping cart” when you “check out.”

This discrepancy means that if people choose not to buy dental insurance, millions of children may continue to go without necessary dental benefits. This was clearly not the intent of the law. We believe essential benefits should be essential in all circumstances.

The New York Times article also talks about the different ways you can purchase dental benefits through the marketplaces – either through an option that includes or “embeds” your dental benefits in your health insurance plan or as a separate plan from your medical benefits. Ninety-eight percent of Americans with employer-sponsored dental coverage today get their benefits from a standalone plan.

Before the ACA, if your employer didn’t offer dental coverage, it was difficult to shop around for a dental plan on your own. Now, the marketplaces provide a one-stop shop – technical glitches aside – for people to compare plans and purchase dental coverage.

One key point that was not made in the New York Times article is that people are buying dental plans through the marketplaces. In fact, early reports out of some states show that their first marketplace enrollments on 10/1/13 were for dental plans and in at least one state more people are purchasing dental plans than medical!

We think people need choices and that may mean standalone or embedded dental benefits. However, dental benefits embedded in medical plans could expose buyers to a less than generous dental benefit and greater upfront costs for basic services like cleanings, sealants, fluoride, and filings -- especially if it is the only option on the marketplace. It is also important that there be the option of plans that offer adult dental as well as pediatric dental benefits. Selection of plans and benefits is dependent on a person’s unique needs. That’s why there need to be knowledgeable ACA navigators to assist new buyers.

Additionally, there are tax benefits available to families who cannot afford to purchase health insurance. If you qualify for a subsidy, it will first be applied to the cost of the premium for your health plan. Then, if there is money left over, it will be applied to the premium for your dental plan. This formula could leave millions of families unable to afford dental insurance because there will be few, if any, dollars available to cover pediatric dental. The federal government can make a simple adjustment to this formula to ensure that low-income families have the financial assistance they need to purchase high-quality dental coverage. Unfortunately, other important priorities have taken the focus away from pediatric dental health. As the New York Times article states, “kids’ dental shouldn’t be the stepchild of plans the exchanges are offering.”

At DentaQuest, we are committed to working with our colleagues, the federal government, members of Congress, and advocacy organizations to develop short-term and long-term solutions to ensure that all children have access to high-quality, affordable dental care.

Prevention Summit Targets Eradicating Childhood Caries

By Ralph Fuccillo, DentaQuest Chief Mission Officer, President DentaQuest Foundation

 

As I’ve said many times, the common diseases of the mouth – cavities and gum disease—are nearly completely preventable with education, information and access to care.

I was very pleased to have the opportunity to participate in the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Prevention Summit. As a leading national professional dental association, the ADA commands attention. The ADA brought together participants from academia/research, private practice dentistry, philanthropy, dental teams, health promotion, industry, non-dental health care providers, patient advocates, policymakers, insurers and ADA dental societies. I sat with colleagues in philanthropy. Dr. John Luther, DentaQuest’s Chief Dental Officer, joined others involved in financing care. Dr.  Michael Monopoli, Director of Policy and Programs for the DentaQuest Foundation joined the policy table. Dr. Rob Compton, Executive Director of the DentaQuest Institute led a session on How Financing Incentivizes and Reinforces Practice.

Elaine Kuttner of Cambridge Concord Associates led the group through an interactive summit agenda and initiated thoughtful table discussions. Many of us have come to know and respect Elaine for her careful work in guiding common ground conversations at the U.S. National Oral Health Alliance Colloquia. I was also very pleased to see that the DentaQuest Foundation’s Systems Change Approach was one of the prevention frameworks presented for discussion.  After two days, the Summit concluded with all agreeing to some ambitious goals:

1. Eradicate childhood caries
2. Emphasize health equity
3. Apply the chronic disease framework to dental disease
4. Build community-facing care systems
5. Redesign prevention

I was particularly inspired by the keynote presentation of Dr. Hayagreeva Rao, PhD, the Atholl McBean Professor of Organizational Behavior and Human Resources at Stanford University. Professor Rao studies the social and cultural causes of change and the role of social movements as motors of change.  Dr. Rao encouraged participants to consider the motivational dynamics of other movements and how an oral health movement might be shaped.

We are at a crucial movement in oral health. The ACA has inserted prevention and oral health into the national dialogue. People who had not previously had the ability to purchase dental insurance for themselves or their families now can through the exchanges. And the emerging national network of oral health supporters and advocates, many of whom are Foundation grantees and partners, is ready and willing to carry the message of oral health to families, consumers, care givers, policymakers, and legislators.

Following the Summit, there have been many meaningful exchanges among participants regarding the potential and sometimes the frustration in funding ways to make prevention a more central focus of oral health.

For more information on DentaQuest Foundation and DentaQuest Institute, visit DentaQuest.com.

Diabetes and Your Dental Health

Dr. Linda Vidone, Dental Director, DentaQuest

Did you know that the 26 million people living with diabetes are at an increased risk for gum disease? According to the American Diabetes Association, people with diabetes are more susceptible to serious gum disease which can affect blood glucose control and contribute to the progression of diabetes.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month so we’re calling attention to this important correlation.

Researchers have found that people with diabetes are at increased risk for oral health problems, such as gingivitis (an early stage of gum disease) and periodontitis (serious gum disease). Diabetics are typically more vulnerable to bacterial infection and have a diminished ability to fight bacteria once they invade the gums.

Gum disease can make blood sugar levels fluctuate, making it more difficult to control the disease. Diabetics are also more susceptible to other complications from bacterial infections, dry mouth and fungal infections.

All of this underscores the importance of maintaining good oral health and keeping your dentist up to date on your general health.

So what can you do to prevent gum disease and lower your diabetes risk? (1) Make sure you brush and floss properly and see your dentist for regular checkups. (2) If you have diabetes, be sure to control your blood glucose levels. (3) Let your dentist and hygienist know of your condition so they can be ready to meet your needs.

Diabetes.org has lots of tips on keeping your mouth healthy. DentaQuest.com also offers a free resource for determining your risk of developing dental disease here.

November 1, 2013 is First Ever National Brush Your Teeth Day

By Dr. John Luther, Chief Dental Officer

This is the perfect time to start a good habit that will last a lifetime: Brush 2 minutes, 2 times a day and every day.

Prevention is what helps us have good oral health vs. poor oral health. The single most important thing that you can do to protect your teeth is to brush for two minutes, twice a day, every day of the week.

And you should start to make this a daily routine from the time your children get their first teeth.

Here are some brushing tips:

Always use a soft toothbrush. Be sure the size of the brush allows you to reach all areas of the mouth. Replace toothbrushes every 3-4 months. Once the bristles get worn out, get a new brush. Replace your toothbrush after you’ve been sick.

Try not to let the brushes of family members touch when you store them on the counter or by the sink. You don’t want to spread bacteria from one mouth to another!

Check out this video to see how to teach your children how to brush their teeth.

Babies to 2 years: Gently wipe the baby’s teeth with a clean damp washcloth. For kids under age 2, use a soft toothbrush and a little water; no toothpaste is necessary. Once teeth are cleaned at bedtime, babies should drink only plain water (no juice, milk or soda).

Children, 2 years to 6 years: Help your children brush their teeth. Hold the toothbrush with them and show them how to clean every tooth surface. Help your kids place the toothbrush at an angle against their gums. Make sure they move the brush back and forth, gently, in short strokes. Help them brush the front, back, and top of teeth. Be sure to use fluoride toothpaste. All you need is a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste for kids ages 2-6. Teach them to spit out the toothpaste when they’re done and not swallow it. Teach them to gently brush their tongue to remove germs and freshen breath.

Children, 6 years to thirteen: Once children know how to brush, let them do this on their own, but be sure to supervise to be sure all teeth get cleaned. Be sure to use fluoride toothpaste.The goal is to spend 2 minutes to be sure you brush every tooth -- the front, back, chewing surfaces and sides. Teach your children how to floss between teeth and make this part of the nighttime routine.

Teens and Adults: We are all busy with work, school, sports, family -- but that is no excuse for not brushing. Clean your teeth gently but thoroughly for a full 2 minutes, getting at all surfaces and floss between the teeth before you head off for the day (work or school) and finish the day by brushing to remove leftover food in your mouth. Your goal is to remove food that will decay and cause acids that will attack the tooth’s enamel and also to remove plaque that sticky film of germs that forms on teeth and gums after eating. Plaque that’s not removed by brushing twice a day and flossing once a day can lead to cavities.

Bookmark this website: www.2min2x.org. You’ll find  charts that show how teeth develop from babies to young adults. There are free, two-minute videos featuring notable characters from children’s shows and networks, including Sesame Street and Cartoon Network— that kids can watch while brushing. And parents/caregivers can register their mobile phone and get kids oral health tips via SMS messages. Subscribe by texting “BRUSH” to 30364 or by visiting the homepage of 2min2x.org.

And remember this: Simple, repetitive tasks will become habit in just 21 days. Start on November 1 and make it your goal to brush 2 minutes, twice a day, every day. You can do this!

DentaQuest will be tweeting encouragement and reminders all month long. Follow us @DentaQuest

Take the Candy, Leave the Cavities

By Dr. John Luther, Chief Dental Officer, DentaQuest

It’s that spooky time of year again.

Halloween is just around the corner and children are counting down the days until they can dress up, knock on doors and load up their candy supply. When it comes to trick-or-treating, the treats can actually be the biggest trick of all.

We want our children to enjoy the scary fun of Halloween, but we don’t want to be paying for it in dental problems down the road. Sugar is a major cause of tooth decay and cavities. After candy is consumed, sugar and plaque lurk in the crevices of your child’s teeth. If this is not removed by careful brushing, bacteria in the mouth will feed on the sugars and turn them into acid which, over time, wears away the protective enamel, making teeth vulnerable to decay.  Tooth decay ultimately leads to cavities.

Parents can help their kids enjoy Halloween by moderating the amount of candy consumed and limiting the amount of time sugar stays in contact with their children’s teeth. Below are a few helpful tricks to preserve you child’s smile this year:

• Inspect your children’s Halloween loot before they dive in. Hard candies, like lollipops, can cause chipped teeth, choking, and the promotion of tooth decay, since they sit in the mouth for a long period of time, allowing sugars to completely coat the teeth and mouth.

• Avoid sticky candies like gummy fruit snacks. It is hard for saliva to wash away the sticky sugars, so they stay in the crevices of the teeth for long periods of time, creating plaque buildup and eventually cavities. It takes a lot of brushing to rid the mouth of buildup from gummy fruit snacks or caramels.

• Look for Halloween treats that can be eaten quickly. Candy like miniature chocolate bars dissolve completely and quickly so the sugar spends less time in your child’s mouth.  
   
• Eat a small serving. It is better for your child to eat a small serving of candy in one sitting than to snack all afternoon. The goal is to minimize the amount of time sugar stays in contact with teeth. Encourage your child to follow consumption of candy with a glass of water and thorough tooth brushing. 

Reducing candy and sugar consumption is good advice year-round, for both children and adults. Make good oral health habits a family activity; brush at least twice a day, floss, and visit your dentist every six months. Don’t forget to follow up meals with a glass of water, which counteracts the effects of sugary foods. This way, cavity-causing sugars won’t stick around on your children’s or your teeth long after Halloween is over.

Giving Back During “Mission Month”

By Fay Donohue, DentaQuest CEO & President

At DentaQuest, we are a mission-driven organization. Everything we do, whether it is processing claims, recruiting dentists, developing plan options, funding grantees, or using scientific research, is directed at improving the oral health of all. To fulfill this mission it is important for us take time and ensure that our actions reflect how deeply committed we are to the people we serve and the places we live and work.

This is why we are calling October “Mission Month” and dedicating the entire month to community service. Over 1,000 DentaQuest employees in Maryland, Florida, South Carolina, Texas, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts will dedicate thousands of hours to projects in their local communities. We expanded last year’s “Mission Day,” because it was so successful, our employees wanted to spend more time giving back.

I had the chance to kick-off our month-long effort at the Greater Boston Food Bank last week. My team and I inspected and sorted donated food items to be shipped to the 550 Greater Boston Food Bank member agencies. It was fun, incredibly rewarding, and most importantly, we helped feed those most in need.

Other service projects include volunteering at senior living centers, working with Habitat for Humanity, and maintenance work on nature preserves. Take a look at what’s going on all around the country.

I am proud to be part of an enterprise that is working each day to improve oral health and make a real difference in the lives and communities we serve.