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Help your patients achieve their best heart health
February 13, 2023

This article is for dentists and oral surgeons, primary care physicians and clinicians, and cardiologists caring for our members

In February, we focus on matters of the heart by celebrating both Valentine’s day and heart health month. This presents you with the opportunity to talk to your patients about maintaining and improving their heart health through regular dental care.

Links between periodontal disease and heart health are clear

The association is clear between periodontal disease–the most common infectious disease in adults–and the control of diabetes1 and the severity of heart disease.2 In fact, notes researcher Robert H. Shmerling, MD, of Harvard Health Publishing, “study after study has shown that people who have poor oral health (such as gum disease or tooth loss) have higher rates of cardiovascular problems such as heart attack or stroke than people with good oral health.”3

That’s why we offer our members Enhanced Dental Benefits. These benefits provide education and full coverage for certain preventive and periodontal services connected to the total health of individuals with certain health conditions--including coronary artery disease, diabetes, and stroke. Services that members can receive with these benefits may help reduce oral inflammation, which has been linked to the management of heart disease.  The benefits are paid at 100 percent and are not subject to deductibles, coinsurance, or calendar year maximums when performed by a participating or preferred dental provider.

Enhanced Dental Benefits reduce barriers to care and reduce costs

By reducing cost barriers to care, these benefits have demonstrated results in improving outcomes for members. Our claims data show measurable cost savings – about $5,000, or 20 percent of total medical cost -- when members with both medical and dental coverage diagnosed with heart disease get preventive or periodontal dental care. We are focused not only on helping our dental members get appropriate services to maximize their oral health, but also in helping members control a risk factor in the management of their overall health.  

How to help your patients take advantage of their benefits

We automatically identify and enroll members eligible for Enhanced Dental Benefits if they have both medical and dental coverage through Blue Cross of Massachusetts.

For members who only have medical coverage through us, the patient's medical provider can fill out the Enhanced Dental Benefits Enrollment Form for Dental Blue 65 members or all other members.

Once members are enrolled, their dentist can provide more frequent cleaning, periodontal maintenance, and periodontal scaling to put them on the path to improved heart health.

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1. https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8457155/  

2. https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7218770/

3. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/gum-disease-and-the-connection-to-heart-disease