SPRING CLEANING JUST AHEAD

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Happy Spring Equinox! Now that winter is finally over, do you start to think about spring-cleaning your house? Not only is this a great time of year to take care of that dreaded chore, it’s also the perfect time to freshen up your smile! Regular dental cleanings are so important to the health of not only your teeth but in the fight against periodontal (gum) disease. This is especially important for patients with or at risk for chronic systemic diseases. We consistently educate our patients about the links between periodontal disease and conditions like stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. Here is a different angle to consider:
A study titled “The Mouth – the Missing Piece to Overall Health and Lower Medical Costs” included data on average yearly medical cost savings and reduced hospital stays for patients who followed through on periodontal treatment and maintenance versus those who did not. The results are striking so here is a summary:

ANNUAL MEDICAL COST SAVINGS:
$5681 – for patients with cerebral vascular disease (stroke)
$1090 – for patients with heart disease
$2840 – for patients with diabetes
$2433 – for women who were pregnant

ANNUAL HOSPITALIZATION REDUCTIONS (not applicable to women who were pregnant)
21.2% for patients with stroke
28.6% for patients with heart disease
39.4% for patients with diabetes
*Click here to read the entire study.

These are significant savings! And this is not the first study to show savings in medical expenses associated with keeping gums healthy. Remember signs of gum disease include bleeding/puffy gums, gums that look red and inflamed, and chronic bad breath. It can be prevented and treated with good oral care at home and keeping up with regularly scheduled cleanings and maintenance. Spring is the perfect time to get back on track so don’t wait! Click here to schedule at one of our conveniently located offices. Click here to learn more about how we view overall wellness and it’s relation to oral health.

Credit: 2014 White Paper: The Missing Piece to Overall Health and Lower Medical Costs
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