Perio treatment may lower diabetics' medical costs
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Posted March 9, 2009 |
By Jennifer Garvin Ann Arbor, Mich.—Researchers at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry have discovered that treating periodontal disease may be linked to lower medical costs for diabetics.
Dr. George Taylor, a member of the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs and an associate professor of dentistry at UM, led the study, which analyzed Blue Care Network claims from 2,674 people with diabetes ages 18 to 64. All of the individuals were enrolled in the Blue Care Network between 2001 and 2005 and had at least 12 consecutive months of medical, dental and pharmaceutical coverage.
"We found insured adults with diabetes in Michigan who received routine periodontal treatment, such as dental cleanings and scaling, have significantly lower medical care costs than those who do not," Dr. Taylor said. "These results could be meaningful to individuals, employers, health care providers and insurers."
The study, which has not been published, revealed that medical care costs decreased by an average of 11 percent per month for BCN members who received one or two periodontal treatment procedures annually compared to those who received no treatments. For the patients who received three or four treatments, costs decreased nearly 12 percent.
"The results of our analyses provide additional evidence supporting a beneficial role for periodontal treatment in improving overall health for people with diabetes," Dr. Taylor said, adding that he hopes the study leads to a pilot program with expanded periodontal treatment benefits that might determine if there would be further reductions in health care costs and improved systemic health and oral health for people with diabetes.
The study was sponsored by a grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation.
For more information about the study, visit www.dent.umich.edu  .
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