November 5, 2012 (
United Concordia Dental) — United Concordia Dental Offers Innovative Program in Response to Study Findings.
Medical costs are lower for people with diabetes who receive
treatment for gum disease, according to a study presented today to the
American Association for Dental Research by Dr. Marjorie Jeffcoat of the
University of Pennsylvania. The study was done in collaboration with
United Concordia Dental and Highmark Inc. “The study showed that periodontal treatment and ongoing maintenance
is associated with a significant decrease in the cost of medical care
for people with diabetes – in the amount of $1,800 per year,” said James
Bramson, D.D.S., chief dental officer for United Concordia. “The
findings also showed that hospitalizations decreased by 33 percent and
physician visits by 13 percent across the entire study population of
diabetics when gum disease is treated and managed afterward.” Findings
related to pharmacy costs in the study population will be released in
the near future. More than 25.8 million adults and children are living with diabetes
in 2011 – a number that has more than doubled since 1999, according to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “It is really a landmark study because of its size and three-year
duration. These numbers clearly demonstrate the importance of the
study’s findings for people with diabetes, as well as the impact the
treatment of gum disease can have on the rising medical costs associated
with diabetes,” said. Dr. Bramson. F.G. Merkel, United Concordia president and chief operating officer,
said the dental insurer and its parent company, Highmark Inc., funded
the study by Professor and Dean Emeritus Marjorie Jeffcoat, D.M.D., of
the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine, because of
United Concordia’s increasing concern with the importance of oral health
on overall health and to underscore both companies’ commitment to
wellness. “The study points to the ability to lower medical costs among
patients with diabetes through appropriate dental care,” said Merkel.
“Because of what we now know, United Concordia is introducing a group
product that provides additional coverage for treatment of periodontal
disease for members with diabetes. We believe that employers will
realize reduced medical costs when their employees with diabetes receive
appropriate periodontal care." As a result of the study’s findings, United Concordia will offer
UCWellness, a disease-specific program that provides 100 percent
coverage for maintenance following periodontal treatment, certain
surgical procedures that treat gum disease and removal of plaque and
tartar in patients with gum disease. An important component of
UCWellness is targeted education geared toward covered members with
diabetes. “What makes UCWellness different than others on the market is the
enhanced surgical benefit we are offering,” said Merkel. “United
Concordia is the first to offer this type and level of coverage to
people with diabetes.” “A considerable amount of literature exists pointing to an
association between dental disease and certain medical conditions,
including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and premature or low birth
weight infants,” said Dr. Jeffcoat. “The number of individuals’ data in
this study makes it the largest of its kind and is clinically
significant in my opinion.”
The information being released related to diabetes is the first in a
series of findings which will demonstrate that appropriate dental
treatment and maintenance can actually help lower medical costs for
individuals with certain medical conditions. “We hope these additional findings will show medically related cost
savings as well. What’s clear now is that appropriate dental treatment
and maintenance for diabetics can predict lower medical costs,” said Dr.
Bramson.
The University of Pennsylvania study analyzed data over a three-year
period from nearly 1.7 million individuals with United Concordia dental
and Highmark medical coverage. It focused on determining if dental
cleanings and/or treatment of gum disease would decrease the cost of
medical care in patients who have diabetes. The study will also analyze
other chronic diseases and conditions, such as heart disease, strokes
and pregnancy with pre-term birth. Dr. Jeffcoat presented the diabetes findings today to more than 2,500
attendees at the American Association for Dental Research annual
meeting in Tampa, Florida. United Concordia expects to release the
finding for the other diseases and conditions when the analysis is
complete and will use the information to help employers drive down group
benefit costs.
