Overall medical and pharmacy costs for people with diabetes can be lowered by more than 10 percent per year if individuals receive regular, non-surgical periodontal services, according to a recent University of Michigan study.
The study also showed the same procedures were linked to as much as 19 percent lower diabetes-related medical costs. The research findings further underscore the importance of the link between medical and dental health.
"We found insured adults with diabetes in Michigan who receive routine periodontal treatment, such as dental cleanings and scaling, have significantly lower medical care costs than those who do not," said George Taylor, DMD, the study's principal investigator and associate professor at The University of Michigan School of Dentistry.
"The results of our analyses provide additional evidence supporting a beneficial role for periodontal treatment in improving overall health in people with diabetes and in lowering overall costs," Taylor added.
The study analyzed five years of claims data from the Blue Care Network, a Michigan-based HMO, and was funded by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation. The claims data pool consisted of 2,674 members with diabetes aged 18-64 with at least 12 consecutive months of medical, dental and pharmaceutical coverage.
"Our belief is that research like this can have positive effects on the quality of care and cost of treating patients with diabetes," said Ira Strumwasser, MD, executive director and CEO of the BCBSM Foundation.