DentaQuest Foundation Grantees & Partners Commit to Oral Health 2020

This week, the DentaQuest Foundation is welcoming over 160 grantees, partners and friends to our annual grantee gathering in Philadelphia. This year’s theme is “Strengthening the Core: From Network to Social Movement.”

Since 2011, the Foundation, through grants and programmatic direction, has been fostering the growth and development of a national network of individuals and organizations dedicated to improving oral health.  This week’s gathering is an opportunity for members of this growing network to make new connections, celebrate individual and collective successes,  get support in meeting challenges, and become inspired by creative thinking and unexpected viewpoints.

This is also an opportunity for all of us to consider how we will commit to the possibilities of Oral Health 2020 to improve oral health across the lifespan and eliminate dental disease in children.

How will each of us – grantee, partner and friend – contribute to the ambitious targets that we collectively aim to achieve by the end of the decade?

• 75% of all children reach age 5 without a cavity
• Oral health is incorporated into the 10 largest school districts in the US
• A comprehensive adult Medicaid dental benefit is available in 30 states and through Medicare
• A comprehensive state and national oral health measurement system is developed

A focus will also be on how to elevate oral health equity and health literacy in the expanding work of the network. Meeting the milestones of Oral Health 2020 will bring the greatest benefit to communities that today experience the greatest burden of poor oral health. How can the oral health network help them lift their voices to support changes that deliver new possibilities for oral health for all? 

We have an exciting week ahead. Participants will be sharing their thoughts via twitter, using the hashtag #DQFConnections. Follow along to read all about the accomplishments and goals of our grantees. Attending the conference? Use the hashtag to tell us about it.

Friday Dental Download: October 17, 2014

This week we learn about a new genetic risk test for periodontal disease, discuss the role of dentists in pain management and addiction and learn that most kids have poor dental hygiene habits. We also introduced our new blog series, don’t forget to check it out! Join the conversation on Twitter using #FridayDentalDL.

1.     Study: Most kids’ dental hygiene not good: According to a recent Ad Council study, three out of four parents say their kids forget to brush their teeth, but only 22 percent of parents seem to be concerned about it. This is a big problem with kids grazing on sweet and snacks and sugary and acidic drinks throughout the day. The residue sits in their mouths creating opportunities for tooth decay to set in. Juice boxes, energy and sports drinks, soda, and high carb snacks increase the risk of cavities. For tips for pediatric oral health care visit our oral health library.  

2.     ADA 2014: Pain management and addiction – the dentist’s role: Pain management, identification of patients at high risk for substance abuse, and utilizing interventions for drug abusers were the focus of a session at the American Dental Association 2014 annual meeting. According to Patrick Sammon, PhD, professor emeritus from the department of oral health science at the University of  Kentucky College of Dentistry, about one third of every dentist’s patients (37 percent) have a drug problem. Dentists now have an array of drugs to control pain. If a dentist suspects a patient is abusing drugs, he/she should use the SBIRT method: screen patients, use brief intervention, and refer to treatment. Click here for more helpful tips and information.

3.     Athletes’ Teeth May Suffer from high Carb Diets, Sports Drinks and Eating Disorders:  We know that sports drinks partnered with poor oral hygiene can often lead to gum disease; however, a recent study shows that high carb diets can also contribute to cavities. Scientists found that a high carb diet – a  diet heavily based on refined and processed carbohydrate foods – can lead to tooth decay and gingival inflammation. If you’re an athlete, check your risk for gum disease here.  

4.     Genetic risk test for periodontal diseases highlighted during ADA annual meeting: Interleukin Genetics, Inc., Chief Executive Officer Kenneth S. Kornman, DDS, PhD and his colleagues reported on their study which found important new insights into the prevention of periodontal disease and the significant opportunity to improve oral health through a personalized approach to preventive care. The genetic test is performed by dentists during routine exams or cleanings. It measures variations in genes for Interleukin-1 (IL-1), a key mediator of inflammation, and identifies individuals who are at increased risk for moderate to severe periodontal disease.

                                                                                                             

The Best Thing You Can Do for Your Teeth is to Brush and Floss Them – Every Day.

We recently tweeted about Sarah Klein’s article in the Huffington Post, Why Falling Asleep Without Brushing Your Teeth is Actually Pretty Darn Gross. That tweet got your attention.

Sarah wrote, “Brushing is important for reasons beyond fresh breath.” Here’s why: brushing disrupts the growth of bacterial plaque on your teeth. When you don’t brush your teeth plaque makes itself at home on your pearly whites. The longer that plaque sits on your teeth, the more likely it is to become harmful.

When the bacteria stays on your teeth, it releases acids that draw minerals out of the tooth’s enamel.  You can even see this happening - white spots on the teeth are a warning sign. If you start to see white spots on your teeth, we recommend you see your dentist as soon possible because the tooth can still be ‘healed’ with fluoride treatments. If you don’t do anything, the acids will continue to eat away at the enamel, and over time, it will collapse, causing a cavity. 

The best thing you can do for your teeth is to brush and floss them twice every day (make sure to brush for 2 minutes each time).  The effectiveness of this simple routine was demonstrated in a study of children in the town of Nexo, Denmark. The experiment was pretty simple: parents and children were told the correct way to brush their teeth (using fluoridated toothpaste) before breakfast and before bedtime. Fluoridated toothpaste was used because fluoride helps harden the enamel, protecting it from the acids. At the start of the experiment, the children in the Nexo study and other children across Denmark had similar rates of cavities (see chart below). Over time, the simple routine of properly brushing twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste made a big difference – a 60 percent improvement in the cavity rate in seven years.

October is National Dental Hygiene Month so now is a great time to adopt a daily plan to brush, floss, rinse, and chew sugar-free gum in order to improve and maintain your best dental health. For more information and best practices visit our Oral Health Library.

DentaQuest Launches a New Series About Ancillary Benefits: Why This matters to Me

By Steve Pollock, Chief Operating Officer, DentaQuest

As we approach open enrollment this fall, millions of American’s will purchase and use health insurance for the first time, and dental management will be a key component of cost reduction strategies.

Between 2008 and 2010, the American healthcare system spent $2.7 billion on the more than 4 million patients who relied on hospital emergency rooms for help with dental conditions, many of which did not require immediate attention and could have been treated in a less costly dentist’s office. This unnecessary expense could be reduce or eliminated with proper dental management.

I am excited to launch my new blog series, Why this Matters to Me, an informational series to highlight how ancillary benefits, like dental and vision, are necessary to improve patient experiences, reduce the cost of care, and help health plans meet the new demands set forth by healthcare reform and increased regulation.

These strategies are especially important as the introduction of healthcare exchanges and the expansion of Medicaid allows many Americans to buy and use insurance for the first time.  Here are just some of the numbers:

As many as 8 million adults will gain dental benefits through Medicaid expansion Health insurance enrollment through the federal and state marketplaces is expected to quadruple to 28 million consumers by 2023. In the first year of health reform, 21 percent of all consumers on the federal exchange purchased stand-alone dental plans.

Oral health affects medical care in countless ways, and there are valuable opportunities for the two areas of healthcare delivery to collaborate more closely for the benefit of providers, patients and healthcare organizations.

The shifting healthcare landscape presents us with a perfect opportunity to explore strategies that will improve the delivery of care in a more efficient way. Below are a few examples of the types of topics I’ll cover in this series:

• Emergency Room Diversion: Too often, people rely on emergency rooms for dental problems that could be prevented and treated through regular visits to the dentist. At DentaQuest, we understand that preventive dental services mitigate the frequency of emergency room visits and that fewer emergency room visits reduce the cost of healthcare for patients and institutions. I’ll explore the innovative ways we are reducing reliance on emergency rooms, such as the DentaQuest Institute’s Early Childhood Caries (ECC) Collaborative that seeks to reduce dental surgery through education.

• Medical Dental Integration: Periodontal disease, a type of dental disease, produces inflammation throughout a person’s body, which affects their ability to manage and combat chronic disease.  Aligning medical and dental professionals to provide coordinated care for patients can lead to better disease management and thus reduced costs.

• Using Ancillary Benefits as a Strategy for Growth: In this changing market, consumers are demanding greater value at reduced costs while regulations are creating even more strain on margins. I will explore the advantages of using dental as a strategy to grow market share and provide great value in your offerings. 

The ACA continues to significantly influence the ways in which today’s consumers purchase, view and seek healthcare services. As a result, we must adjust the way we think about providing and funding healthcare. In that vein, I look forward to engaging in a conversation about how integrating dental benefits can make the healthcare industry more efficient and effective for all of us.

Putting Teeth in Health Literacy Month

Nearly 9 out of 10 adults have difficulty using routine health information according to the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy. Increasing health literacy, defined as “the ability for consumers to read, understand and act upon health information,” is an important way to improve the health of Americans. However, this is a lot easier said than done. The healthcare industry is plagued with complex terms and explanations, leaving patients confused and unclear about how to stay healthy. This is especially true when it comes to oral health. Fortunately, October is Health Literacy Month.

Oral health literacy is an important factor in achieving true health literacy. Oral health plays a significant role in overall health and dental disease can affect your quality of life so understanding how to properly care for your teeth and gums is imperative to staying healthy.

The theme of this year’s Health Literacy Month is “Health Literacy Heroes” so we put together a list of tips you can follow to become an oral health literacy hero:

1. Improve communication with your dentist

·         Before you leave for your dentist appointment, make a list of your current medications, write down your questions and bring paper to take notes

·         Ask questions if something is not clear

·         Request written materials in plain language

·         Know your risk factors and if you don’t, have a conversation about it (click here for tips about how to talk to your dentist about risk)

2. Utilize materials that are easy to read, understand and use

·         Health Information Translations provides free access to more than 3,000 health education resources in up to 18 languages

·         Massachusetts Health Quality Partners posts health care quality data in ways the public can understand

3. Visit our Oral health Library, which provides important information written in plain language about adult oral health, pediatric oral health, the relationship between oral health and diabetes, and other general oral health topics. The library is also available in Spanish.

Learn more about Health Literacy Month here. 

Friday Dental Download: October 3, 2014

Happy National Dental Hygiene Month! This week, we discover the 6 biggest dental problems for people over age 50, learn that good dental hygiene does more than take care of teeth, and discuss California’s launch of Medicaid-funded teledentistry. Join the conversation on Twitter using #FridayDentalDL.

1. California To Launch Medicaid-Funded Teledentistry: California Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law a bill that will require Medi-Cal, the state’s health insurance program for low-income and disabled residents, to pay for dental services delivered by teams of hygienists and dentists connected through the Internet. California is among the first states to launch teledentistry services, which are intended to increase options for patients in remote and underserved areas. This bill will also expand the types of procedures hygienists and certain assistants can perform without onsite supervision by a dentist.

2. More education needed on HIV-oral health link: Knowledge surrounding HIV/AIDS has increased in recent years but more than 1.1 million people in the U.S. are infected with HIV. What many people don’t realize is the important role oral health plays when it comes to HIV and AIDS. In fact, the mouth may be the first part of the body to display signs of an HIV infection. Oral infections can be an indicator of immune system dysfunction. DentaQuest is acutely aware of Tennessee’s affected and at-risk populations, specifically medically underserved residents and young adults. DentaQuest works with community organizations and holds screenings and educational events across the state to engage all in conversations about good oral health.

3. Good dental hygiene does more than take care of your teeth: Regular visits to the dentist not only ensure healthy teeth and gums but also may help protect your brain. A recent study found a strong connection between dental health and risk for stroke, a major cause of brain damage and cognitive decline. The research adds to the growing research that shows a correlation between careful care of teeth and gums and lowered the risk for cardiovascular disease. Good dental hygiene is an important part of ensuring good health. For adult oral health tips click here.

4. ADA supports agreement to cut soft drink calories:  Last week, the three biggest U.S. soft drink companies, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, pledged to cut the number of beverage calories that Americans consume by one-fifth by 2025. Not only do the high calories in soft drinks contribute to the obesity epidemic, but the high sugar content contributes to poor oral health.

5. The 6 Biggest Dental Problems for People Over Age 50: Older Americans are keeping their teeth longer than before. The most common problems for older Americans are, tooth decay, dry mouth, gum disease, oral cancer, and tooth crowding. For preventive tips, click here.

6. Community Foundation’s Mission of Mercy Fund receives $10,000 from DentaQuest for 2015 free dental clinic: The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s Mission of Mercy Fund received $10,000 from DentaQuest to support the operational needs of the Eastern Shore’s second Mission of Mercy dental clinic scheduled to be held April 17-18, 2015 at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center in Salisbury, MD. “Mission of Mercy” (MOM) projects are conducted across the country to bring quality dental care to underserved populations. DentaQuest teams are supporting MOMs in Henderson, CO, San Antonio, TX and Rio Rancho, New Mexico this month.

Expanding Medicaid Adult Dental Coverage to Close the Gap

Despite the role oral health plays in a person’s overall health, some states are still placing dental care on the back burner when it comes to adult dental coverage under Medicaid. States have to make difficult decisions as they work to balance tough budgets. That said, states shouldn’t let the health of underserved residents become less of a priority by eliminating crucial oral health benefits. As dental professionals, we understand the associated pain and suffering untreated dental disease can cause, as well as the financial strain untreated dental disease can place on individuals and the healthcare system.

Fortunately, the Affordable Care Act has given states the opportunity to expand their Medicaid programs which has led many states to revisit the importance of adult dental benefits.  In the past year, nine states have been actively reviewing Medicaid adult dental coverage, 12 states offer extensive benefits to their adult members, 20 offer limited benefits, 16 offer emergency benefits, and 3 offer no benefits. Below are a few examples:

• As a result of legislative and community outreach efforts, Washington state now offers a comprehensive Medicaid dental benefit.
• California, Colorado and Massachusetts have expanded their Medicaid adult dental benefit.  
• Illinois restored its adult Medicaid benefit.
• Idaho and Missouri are continuing to offer emergency dental benefits.
• South Carolina continues to offer emergency dental benefits and is expanding the program to also cover preventive services -- cleanings, fillings, and extractions for adults over the age of 21 covered by Medicaid with a maximum benefit of $750 per member per year.
• Virginia’s governor recently issued an emergency regulation to provide comprehensive dental benefits to all 45,000 pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid. 

Many states have gone back and forth on the extent to which they cover dental benefits for adults. However, this back and forth can create inconsistent care as people without reliable dental coverage often do not participate in the routine dental visits that are necessary to prevent the costly chronic diseases that are associated with poor oral health. Also, many people without access to dental insurance who are confronted with dental problems visit the emergency rooms, even when they do not need emergency treatment, resulting in large medical bills for the hospital and the patient.

We believe strongly in our mission to improve the oral health of all so we are tackling the root cause of this issue from a number of angles. In addition to advocating for the inclusion of adult dental benefits in Medicaid programs across the country, DentaQuest is working to strengthen the safety net care delivery framework for the 85 million Americans that lack dental coverage. Through grants and technical assistance, both the DentaQuest Institute and DentaQuest Foundation are helping safety net dental programs across the United States meet their mission of providing high-quality dental care to underserved populations.  

Across the country, we partner with local organizations to fund outreach events to improve access to oral health. For example, we recently worked with the South Carolina Dental Association to provide funding for Dental Access Days (DAD). DADs and Mission of Mercy (MOM) clinics send trusted volunteers into local communities to provide free dental care to adults in need. MOM and DAD events are extremely helpful to those in need, but they are a stop-gap, not a solution to this nationwide problem.

Additionally, the DentaQuest Foundation’s Oral Health 2020 goals target adult dental benefits in publicly-funded health insurance programs, like Medicare and Medicaid. This is a lofty goal and will require community involvement at all levels to achieve.

Our vision is that all people can receive appropriate dental care from childhood through adulthood, and as a result, avoid the pain and financial burden of untreated oral disease.