"Why in Heaven's Name Aren't Teeth Considered Part of Our Health?"
Susan Sered, Physicians for a National Health Program
Why is it so important to take care of your oral health?
Similar to your sense of smell, your oral hygiene may not seem as important as the rest of your senses. Your sense of taste and dental care make up the broader spectrum of what healthcare calls "oral care". However, taking care of your teeth and receiving regular oral checkups can help detect other healthcare problems early on. In addition, your sense of taste allows you to enjoy food! Taste is vital in the identification of valuable nutrients in the environment, procurement of adequate energy, and central to survival. Taste and smell are directly linked to the brain, so having adequate oral health is important for your overall mental health.
An Introduction to Dental Care in the US
When talking about our current healthcare system in the US today, little attention is given to dental care. So little, in fact, that dental insurance is an entirely separate entity from health insurance. Oral health isn't just about nice teeth. Oral health is intimately connected to general health and can be implicated in or exacerbate diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. It can also help identify complications during pregnancy. Since dental care isn't seen by most Americans as vital, it is the thing people put off the most. The truth, however, is that it's as vital as all your other healthcare needs.
It is estimated that 108 million Americans have no dental insurance.
Dental care has the highest cost of any healthcare service and is a barrier for too many people. And in recent years, it has risen faster than the cost of other medical care. There are few low-cost options available for those without dental insurance, which is costly in itself. It is also extremely difficult to find a dentist that accepts Medicaid. Medicare does not cover dental care at all.
Health Resources and Services Administration, 2022
How does dental insurance work?
The dental care market is estimated to be worth around 150 billion dollars. Instead of changing the dental system to be patient-centric, the insurance companies rely on predictable profits. They stick to what brings them money, regardless of the patient experience. Dental insurance is a premium on top of already pricey health insurance, and coverage varies by state. As of January 2022, 3 states provide no adult dental benefits, 10 states provide emergency-only benefits, 16 states provide limited benefits, and 20 states cover a more comprehensive mix of dental services.
These services leave vulnerable populations behind. In addition, these pricey dental insurance plans often don't cover much beyond routine preventative care. Plans require hefty copays for procedures beyond preventive care. There is also very limited coverage for dentures, bridges, or periodontic work.
Stigmas around Oral Healthcare
Oral health isn't just about nice teeth, in fact, it can impact your ability to get a job and interact with people. And as mask regulations are slowly relaxing in many states, having oral healthcare will impact people socially as well. Many Americans assume that rotten teeth are the product of bad decision making, that maybe if they took better care of their teeth by brushing and flossing more they would have better teeth.
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Although it is crucial to brush and floss, routine dental care allows people to keep their teeth healthy and catch problems when they are easy to treat. If you are unable to see a dentist due to your financial situation, you could acquire serious conditions that you cannot take care of by just brushing and flossing.
In Relation to COVID-19
One of the most prominent COVID-19 symptoms is a loss of taste and smell. In Ducharme's article, Many COVID-19 Survivors Still Can't Smell or Taste. Treating Them Isn't Easy, she states that the healthcare system is not equipped with guidelines to treat those with loss of taste. And in relation, insurance companies are not equipped either. Anyone can walk into an eye doctor's office and take a vision test, but there is no such thing available for taste and smell. As such, many COVID-19 survivors, who have what is known as "long COVID", are still left in the dark about treatments.
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Progress is being made, however. Patients have come together to create advocacy groups like the Smell and Taste Association of North America, which offers support and pushes for more research.
The Bottom Line
The absence of comprehensive dental care takes a toll on millions of Americans in terms of poor health, pain, and the social stigma associated with bad teeth. It's time for dental care to be considered essential in US healthcare policy.
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In addition, people have a right to a healthy mouth. Having adequate oral care is essential for leading a healthy life and attaining adequate mental health. Also, everyone having access to oral healthcare can eliminate the stigmas that people who cannot afford care face every day, such as lack of job opportunities and problems with social interaction.
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In regards to COVID-19, people should not have to pay out-of-pocket costs to see a doctor if they are concerned about their lack of taste sensation. Since there are not many treatment options available, healthcare systems should let patients know that and provide them information without tacking on additional costs.