Do you remember David? He is Betty’s charming (single) cousin who met Ruth, they spent time together, then he moved. Well, he’s back! Yes, he’s happy to be back and so is Ruth.
He joined Ruth and I for lunch. After we caught up a little, he said he needed a new dental plan. His current plan is not widely accepted in Arkansas. David said “I imagine everyone has a dental plan. I need a dental plan that is widely accepted and provides excellent benefits. Dental plans are important, not only because they help pay for dental care, but they also encourage people to go to the dentist. Dentists do so much more than just check your teeth.” I was curious and asked David what he meant. Since David was a child, Chris has been his best friend. Chris is now a dentist. Through the years, Chris has talked with him about patients he has helped by finding medical conditions during routine dental checkups. Most think their dentist is only looking at their teeth. Signs of many serious diseases can be detected in our mouth – hopefully at early stages. I learned a lot from listening to David. David said a routine dental check up can uncover signs of over 100 diseases. How? Symptoms of many serious health and oral health conditions first show in the mouth. And people with dental insurance are more likely to have regular dental checkups than someone without dental insurance. What kind of conditions may be detected during a dental checkup? David said oral cancer, of course, is the first condition people think of. Symptoms include irregular sores, loose teeth, difficulty swallowing, lumps in your neck or cheek and pain in your mouth. I had to know more so I did a little checking. Did you know diabetes may be detected by a dry mouth, certain breath odor, high rate of tooth decay, inflammation, and infections in the mouth? Enamel defects and stunted tooth development in children, ulcers on the tongue and gums may be a sign of kidney failure. Heart disease may cause radiating pain to the jaw due to insufficient oxygen to the heart. If your dentist sees any signs of problems in your mouth, you will be referred to the proper specialist to check further. As with most conditions, early detection increases the chances of successful treatment or management. Chris has certainly made a believer out of David. Then David mentioned vision insurance. He said regular vision exams may also help in early diagnosis of diabetes. Regular dental and vision exams both help detect issues in your mouth or eyes at early stages, when they are easiest and least costly to treat. Gum (periodontal) disease is directly related to glaucoma. Glaucoma is a very common vision issue which may lead to vision loss, if not found and treated early. David has enrolled in a dental/vision plan. Have you? Call me at 501-868-6650 and say “Caroline, can we talk?”
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AuthorCaroline Beauchamp specializes in personalized life and health insurance solutions. Archives
September 2023
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