Aflac: 5 Facts People Should Know About Dental Health

Oral health entails the health and well-being of one’s teeth, gums, and other structures within the mouth. Good oral health is not just required for proper eating and speaking, either. It can help protect one’s overall health and improve self-esteem.

Most people know the basics of dental health — brushing, flossing, and rinsing. However, there is more to good dental health than one might think. The more people know, the better they can care for their teeth and gums. This article covers a few key facts to know about dental health, such as oral hygiene habits, dental insurance, and more.

1. Oral hygiene habits alone aren’t enough

Brushing, flossing, and rinsing are each crucial to oral health. However, even the best habits can miss spots. Patients may not notice warning signs of some dental issues until it’s too late. Therefore, visiting the dentist is the last step in excellent oral hygiene. Dentists can address hard-to-reach areas and look for early warning signs of issues. This helps the patient reduce the cost and complexity of rectifying problems. Patients can also get tips, advice, and free toothpaste and brushes from the dentist.

2. Dental health is linked to overall health

Poor dental health doesn’t just impact the teeth and gums. Untreated issues let bacteria grow, potentially leading to infections in teeth or gums. This infection can spread to other areas of the face and head if untreated, leading to severe health issues.

Furthermore, poor dental has been linked to seemingly unrelated conditions, like an increased risk of cardiovascular issues, such as endocarditis.¹ Researchers believe this is because bacteria can enter the bloodstream and clog arteries or infect the heart’s inner lining. Therefore, taking excellent care of one’s teeth and gums is critical to overall health and well-being.

3. Missing teeth are more than an aesthetic issue

Gaps in a smile may only seem like an inconvenient barrier to proper eating and speaking. However, they can lead to further dental issues. For example, missing teeth can cause other teeth to shift, potentially leading to misalignment. A misaligned bite can wear down teeth faster and lead to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues. It can also create hard-to-reach pockets for bacteria to grow.

Furthermore, the jawbone under the socket where the tooth was stops receiving stimulation. The jawbone weakens and deteriorates without stimulation. This can dramatically alter one’s facial appearance and create more eating and speaking issues.² Missing teeth should be replaced as soon as possible. The cost of doing so outweighs the costs and complexities of correcting further issues.

4. Dental insurance can help reduce dental costs

Dental insurance helps pay for almost every medically necessary dental procedure. Standard dental plans operate on 100-80-50 models, meaning they cover:³

• 100% of preventive care. This includes routine cleanings, exams, and annual x-rays.
• 80% of basic procedures. This includes root planing, fillings, and other simple treatments.
• 50% of major procedures. This includes oral surgery, dental implants, and other more complex procedures.

That said, policies may offer more or less coverage and charge accordingly. Some policies have waiting periods during which certain procedures aren’t covered. Patients who need care more urgently can consider dental insurance with no waiting period. This gives the patient immediate coverage for any procedure the policy helps cover.

Those asking how to get dental insurance have many options. They can start by seeing if their employers offer dental insurance, which can lower premiums. Otherwise, many private insurers offer an array of affordable dental coverage options to help fit many people’s coverage needs and budgets.

5. Dental procedures are easier and more comfortable than eve

Procedures like root canals, fillings, and wisdom tooth extraction have acquired reputations for being painful procedures that induce a lot of dental anxiety. However, this reputation is a holdover from past decades when less technology was available. Technological advancements and surgical technique innovations have made these procedures more effective and safe.⁴For example, dentists use local anesthesia to numb the target area for procedures, eliminating pain in the area. Patients with more dental anxiety can then opt for nitrous oxide to relieve anxiety or, for certain procedures, general anesthesia to be unconscious.⁵ Another example is 3D imaging. This can give the dentist a comprehensive view of wisdom teeth, making extraction more precise to minimize wounding and improve recovery.⁴

The bottom line

Dental health can be more complex than it seems, but by knowing key information, patients can feel more secure in caring for their teeth and gums. People should maintain an oral health routine and visit the dentist regularly. This helps protect not only dental health but also overall health. Fortunately, dental innovations have made procedures more comfortable, and dental insurance has made them more affordable. With this information, patients can feel more confident in their ability to maintain excellent oral health.

Sources:

¹ CareQuest Institute – The Relationship Between Oral Health and Heart Disease. Updated December 18, 2023. https://www.carequest.org/about/blog-post/relationship-between-oral-health-and-heart-disease. Accessed December 20, 2024.

² Center for Advanced Periodontal and Implant Therapy – The Consequences of Tooth Loss on Your Jawline and Facial Appearance. https://www.implantperiocenter.com/the-consequences-of-tooth-loss-on-your-jawline-and-facial-appearance/. Accessed December 20, 2024.

³ Investopedia – How Does Dental Insurance Work? Updated December 15, 2023. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/111715/how-does-dental-insurance-work.asp. Accessed December 20, 2024.

⁴ National Institutes of Health – Influence of New Technology on Dental Care: A Public Health Perspective. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10093858/. Accessed December 20, 2024.

⁵ Cleveland Clinic – Sedation Dentistry. Updated January 12, 2022. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22275-sedation-dentistry. Accessed December 20, 2024.

Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs, please contact your local Aflac agent.

Aflac Coverage

Arkansas, Policies A81100AR–A81400AR. Policies A82100RAR–A82400RAR. In Delaware, Policies A81100–A81400. Policies A82100R–A82400R. In Idaho, Policies A81100ID–A81400ID. Policies A82100RID–A82400RID. In New York, Policies NY81100–NY81400. Policies NY82100–NY82400. In Oklahoma, Policies A81100OK–A81400OK. Policies A82100ROK–A82400ROK. In Oregon, Policies A81100OR–A81400OR. Policies A82100ROR–A82400ROR. In Pennsylvania, Policies A81100PA–A81400PA. Policies A82100RPA–A82400RPAR. In Texas, Policies A81100TX–A81400TX. Policies A82100RTX–A82400RTX. In Virginia, Policies A81100VA–A81200VA. Policies A82100RVA–A82400RVA.

Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.

Tier One Insurance Company Coverage

Dental, Vision and Hearing: In Arkansas, Policy T80000AR. In Delaware, Policy T80000. In Idaho, Policy T80000ID. In Oklahoma, Policy T80000OK. In Oregon, Policy T80000OR. In Texas, Policy T80000TX. Not available NY or VA. Dental claims are administered by Aflac Benefits Solutions, Inc. Vision claims are administered by EyeMed Vision Care, LLC. Hearing claims are administered by Nations Hearing. NOTICE: The coverage offered is not a qualified health plan (QHP) under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and is not required to satisfy essential health benefits mandates of the ACA. The coverage provides limited benefits. Tier One Insurance Company is part of the Aflac family of insurers.

Tier One coverage is underwritten by Tier One Insurance Company. In California, Tier One Insurance Company does business as Tier One Life Insurance Company (Tier One NAIC 92908).

Coverage may not be available in all states, including but not limited to DE, ID, NJ, NM, NY or VA. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on state and plan levels. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policy and rider forms for benefit details, definitions, limitations and exclusions.

Aflac WWHQ | Tier One Insurance Company | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

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Senior PR & Corporate Communications
Contact: Angie Blackmar, 706-392-2097 or [email protected]