ACA And Dental Insurance - What You Need To Know

by Andrea L. Algar

There's been a lot of talk about the consequences of the Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as Obamacare), but all the talk seems to focus on medical insurance and/or the costs that are spiraling beyond initial estimates. But what, if anything, has been said about dental insurance benefits with the Affordable Care Act?

Impact of Good Dental Care
in America

The American Dental Association released the statement, “Taking care of your teeth and gums isn’t just about preventing cavities or bad breath. The mouth is a gateway into your body’s overall health. And since gum disease and other health problems may be linked, brushing and flossing are more important than ever. See your dentist regularly to keep your smile, and yourself, healthy.”

Why then is only dental care for children included in the Affordable Care Act? For many adults, concerns over the cost of dental care has kept people from getting needed dental care early on when costs are lower and less tooth and gum damage has been done. Costs can even feel so prohibitive that many skip routine care or preventive care visits that are shown to save both money and the progression of tooth and mouth problems which can lead to more costly procedures like root canal treatment, the need for crowns, or periodontal work for gum disease.

It has been well documented that chronically poor dental care contributes to financial difficulties, stress, pain, and even one's health. Dentists all over the country are seeing more patients with rotting teeth, with heart disease caused from poor dental hygiene, and people in chronic pain from dental problems. Some surgeons now consider a patient's dental health to assess the risks of surgery. Life-saving surgeries can be compromised if a patient has gum disease or tooth infections.

Under Obamacare a patient’s surgery will likely be covered, but the patient may owe his dentist in full. Most men and women in the United States will continue to obtain dental insurance through their employer or they will do without dental insurance altogether. A good number of men and women in San Antonio do not have dental insurance. This is a tragedy considering how beneficial routine dental care and preventive dental care can be. There are a wealth of studies that demonstrate the financial and health gains that can be achieved by men, women and children who utilize dental care regularly.

Government believes we all deserve affordable health care, there's little debate in that. Why, though, is dental care so limited as part of the Affordable Care Act?  Would we be better served having fuller access to affordable dental care? What do you think?