Dental health and pre-existing conditions can impact each other, along with a person's overall health and well-being. People can benefit from dental care that addresses their oral health history and pre-existing conditions that may affect it. Do not hesitate to seek treatment for their dental health and reduce the risk of exacerbating conditions affecting their overall health.
Oak Tree Dental provides dental health plans for pre-existing conditions in Poway and the surrounding area. Our team can help you improve your oral and overall health. Call us today at (858) 748-2101 to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment.
Pre-existing conditions affected by dental health
Pre-existing conditions are conditions that a person has been diagnosed with before enrolling in a dental health insurance plan. The connection between oral and overall health means that a patient's dental health can affect certain pre-existing medical conditions. Dental issues, such as gum disease and infections in the gums and teeth, can adversely impact people's pre-existing health conditions.
Dental health has a connection to chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease. When a person has gum disease, the bacteria can cause their blood sugar level to rise, making diabetes more difficult to control. Poor dental health can also affect people with heart disease since a bacterial infection in the bloodstream can impact the heart valves.
“The connection between oral and overall health means that a patient’s dental health can affect certain pre-existing medical conditions.”
Managing preexisting conditions and oral health
Just as oral health may affect other aspects of a patient's health, certain systemic conditions may also influence a patient's oral health. Neglecting one aspect of one's medical care can easily cause a never-ending cycle of health issues. As such, the very nature of the oral-systemic connection can sometimes necessitate changes to a patient's treatment plan, dental or otherwise. For instance, patients who have had a heart attack, heart failure, high blood pressure, stroke, or even chest pain (also known as angina) should seek their cardiologists' approval before scheduling any dental treatments.
Once approved, patients should tell their dentists about any heart conditions they have, procedures they have undergone, and medications they are taking to best allow the team to plan for any potential emergencies. This is true regardless of any systemic condition a patient may have. We can only provide optimal care if we know the full extent of our patients' unique medical histories and preexisting conditions. Otherwise, patients may run the risk of further aggravating both their oral and overall health.
“Neglecting one aspect of one’s medical care can easily cause a never-ending cycle of health issues.”
Finding plans that cover pre-existing conditions
Every dental insurance plan is different. While medical insurance plans have laws that enforce coverage for all conditions, dental insurance does not. Dental insurance aims to help people prevent dental issues from worsening and requiring more extensive and expensive treatment. For this reason, many dental insurance policies have clauses for pre-existing conditions and waiting periods to prevent people from purchasing insurance only when they need expensive treatment.
Although many plans will cover minor pre-existing conditions, such as cavities, some plans may not provide coverage for more serious pre-existing conditions. When looking for a dental insurance plan, people should look carefully at what each provider considers a pre-existing condition. They should also determine if the out-of-pocket expenses will fit into their budget.
“Although many plans will cover minor pre-existing conditions, such as cavities, some plans may not provide coverage for more serious pre-existing conditions.”
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Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Google: Treatments for different conditions
Depending on the patient's conditions and needs, dentists provide various treatments to improve their oral health and overall well-being. In particular, treating tooth decay and gum disease is important to minimize the risk of worsening other systemic health conditions. Treatments of tooth decay and gum disease depend on the severity of the patient's condition.
Some treatment options for tooth decay include:
- Crowns
- Dental fillings
- Fluoride treatments
- Root canals
- Tooth extraction
Gum disease treatment can be surgical or non-surgical. Non-surgical options include professional dental cleanings during a routine dental check-up or the deep cleaning treatment, scaling and root planing. Surgical options are available for more serious cases of gum disease, such as pocket reduction surgery, bone grafts, and soft tissue grafts. In other cases, patients may take antibiotic medications to reduce or eliminate the bacteria associated with gum disease.
“Treatments of tooth decay and gum disease depend on the severity of the patient’s condition.”
Questions answered on this page
Q. How do preexisting conditions affect dental care?
Q. What pre-existing conditions are affected by dental health?
Q. How to find plans that cover pre-existing conditions?
Q. What are some treatments for different dental conditions?
People also ask
Q. What should patients do if they have sensitive teeth?
Q. How can someone find out what procedures their dental insurance covers?
Q. What are some dental health conditions that can form during pregnancy?
Frequently asked questions
One of the main risk factors for gum disease is plaque from insufficient oral hygiene. Smoking, tobacco usage, and medications can also contribute to gum disease. People with certain genetic markers, systemic diseases, or a tendency to clench or grind teeth may also have an increased risk of developing gum disease.
Cavity symptoms will vary depending on their location and their severity. The beginning stages of tooth decay may not cause any symptoms. However, as the decay progresses, people may experience tooth pain, sensitivity, visible holes or pits, tooth discoloration, or pain when biting.
Cavities can lead to various complications, including pain, swelling, chewing issues, and teeth shifting. Without treatment, a cavity can progress into an abscess or a pocket of pus. This infection can spread and even become life-threatening in extreme cases.
Healthy gums appear pink and fit tightly around teeth. People with gum disease may have red or purplish and swollen gums that bleed easily. Teeth may also appear longer as the gums recede and the periodontal pockets grow in size.
Scaling and root planing treats chronic gum disease. During scaling, we will remove the plaque from teeth and pockets between the teeth and gums. Root planing involves smoothing out the tooth roots to help the gums reattach to teeth.
Dental terminology
Bacteria are a large and diverse group of single-celled microorganisms, including some varieties that can cause diseases.
Tooth decay is when the enamel of the tooth begins to decay and cause erosion from plaque and tartar on the teeth.
A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity.
Diabetes refers to a group of diseases that affects how the body produces or responds to the hormone insulin and causes high blood sugar.
A heart attack is when blood flow to the heart becomes blocked and causes the tissues to lose oxygen and die.
Heart disease includes a wide range of cardiovascular issues such as diseased vessels, structural problems, and blood clots.
Inflammation is the redness, swelling, and pain that is a part of the body’s natural response to protect itself from infection, toxins, or injury.
Oral hygiene is the practice of maintaining the cleanliness of the mouth, teeth, and gums through brushing, flossing, and regular dental appointments.
Call us today
If you live in the Poway area, call 858-748-2101 for an appointment in our Poway office.
Individual results vary. How long a treatment lasts, and how it looks and feels, depends on each patient.