Diabetes and Dental Insurance: How to Use Coverage to Your Benefit

Managing diabetes can be tough. Not only do you have to worry about your weight and exercise just like everyone else, but you also have to regularly check your blood sugar levels and make smart choices in your diet to avoid spikes. You know that if you don’t control your condition, you can face many dangerous health issues.

Did you know that your dental insurance is designed to help you not only spend less on oral care but also manage your diabetes? In this post, you’ll learn why and how to use your coverage to your benefit!

Oral Health Risks for Those with Diabetes

If you have diabetes, you have a higher risk of developing infections throughout your body, including a gum infection called periodontal or gum disease. Bacterial inflammation of this tissue can cause redness, swelling, and bleeding while you brush your teeth. Untreated, gum disease eventually leads to recession and total loss of teeth.

But that’s not where the problems end! As studies have shown repeatedly, bacteria responsible for gum disease can spread to other parts of the body and exacerbate inflammation in the cardiovascular system, the brain, the kidneys, and elsewhere. In other words, leaving gum disease unaddressed can increase your risk for a heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s or dementia, certain kinds of cancer, and more.

Importance of Regular Dental Checkups and Cleanings for Diabetics

For a diabetic person, getting checked by a dentist is especially essential because of the heightened risk of infection. At least every six months, your dentist needs to examine your teeth and gums because trouble can develop quickly in the mouth.

Fortunately, these regular appointments generally are completely or mostly paid for by dental insurance! As a result, you can save money as well as take better care of your mouth and body.

Using Your Insurance Benefits to Your Advantage

Although dental insurance does include partial coverage for gum disease and restorations, you can get the most bang for your insurance buck by taking advantage of preventive services. Here is the typical breakdown of benefits for dental insurance:

• Preventive care (checkups and cleanings): 80 to 100 percent paid by the insurance company.
• Minor restorative and gum care (scaling and root planing): 70 to 80 percent paid by the insurance company.
• Major restorative care (crowns, dentures, bridges): 50 percent paid by the insurance company.

As you can see, you get the most coverage by using your available preventive services and early intervention for periodontal disease.

While you manage your diabetes through your diet and other means, you can also use the available resources your dental insurance provides to ensure that your condition doesn’t hinder your smile.

About the Practice

With Dr. Branberg and Dr. Cancemi leading the way, DFW Dental Implant Center is proud to accept dental insurance and work with patients to maximize their coverage. In fact, we are in-network with many providers, helping you save even more! If you have questions about using your dental insurance benefits, don’t hesitate to contact us online here or call our office located in Colleyville at 817-440-7133.