Gum disease Severe gum disease is not just bad for your breath - it's bad for your wallet, too. A study by Japanese researchers found that untreated periodontal disease is associated with increased health care costs -- and not just in dental care, but in the amount you will pay for hospital care, too.
Researchers in Japan surveyed the health insurance claims from the health and dental examinations of more than 4,200 civil officers between the ages of 40 and 59. They divided the group into three categories of moderate, severe, and no gum disease and followed their medical and dental costs for more than three years.
At the conclusion of the study, they found that healthcare costs were 21 percent higher for those with severe gum disease as compared to those without gum disease. Men in particular who were categorized as having advanced gum disease had annual hospital costs that were 75 percent higher than those who had none. And for both men and women, those with severe periodontitis were also more likely to be admitted to the hospital.
Researchers said they weren't surprised by the findings, since periodontal disease is associated with such health problems as diabetes, heart disease, pre-term and low birth weight babies, and respiratory disease.
But the good news in all of this is that periodontal disease is a very treatable condition. With good at-home care and regular professional cleanings, you should be able to keep it under control. Source: "Preventing gum disease would save teeth and money," Reuters Health, 7/11/06 |
