Benefits Think Dental, vision and the big picture of integrated benefits

Published Updated 4 Min Read

Integrated benefits can improve patient care and better support human resource departments. Integration can also help connect the dots between different health benefits, like dental and vision, and employers can use this information from routine exams to identify and manage larger health issues for employees.

Dental care and overall health
The most commonly diagnosed condition that shows up in the mouth is periodontal disease, which infects the tissues holding the teeth in place. Symptoms include loose teeth and swollen, receding or bleeding gums and it can lead to more serious health issues if the infection spreads through the bloodstream, especially for those with chronic health conditions like diabetes, pregnancy and coronary heart disease. By improving dental health for people with these chronic conditions, studies have shown that medical costs can be reduced up to 74% per pregnancy and 40% for conditions like vascular disease.

Jeff Spahr
Vice President, specialty business development

Jeff Spahr is the vice president of specialty business development at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.


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