Dental/Vision/Hearing Insurance

 Oral health touches every aspect of our lives, but is often taken for granted. Your mouth is a window into the health of your body. It can show signs of nutritional deficiencies or general infection. Systemic diseases, those that affect the entire body, may first become apparent because of mouth lesions or other oral problems. Whether you are 8 or 80, your oral health is important.

 More older people are keeping their natural teeth than ever before. However, among those aged 65 years and over there are sharp differences by income, with those in poverty twice as likely as those with higher incomes to have lost all their teeth. Many older Americans take medications for chronic conditions that have side effects detrimental to their oral health. These include antihistamines, diuretics, and antidepressants. One-third of adults aged 65 years and over have untreated dental cavities; slightly over 40 percent have periodontal disease.

Only 22 percent of older persons are covered by dental insurance.....most elderly dental expenses are paid out-of-pocket.  

Research shows that many systemic diseases – including heart disease – have oral symptoms. Dentists can help patients who have a history of heart disease by examining them for any signs of oral pain, infection or inflammation. According to the AGD, proper diagnosis and treatment of tooth and gum infections in some of these patients have led to a decrease in blood pressure medications and improved overall health. If you currently have heart disease, make sure to tell your dentist about your condition as well as any medications you are currently taking. Remember to carefully follow your physician’s and dentist’s instructions about health care, and use any prescription medications, such as antibiotics, as directed. 

About one-fifth of people aged 70 years and over have visual impairments. Visual impairment is an important cause of activity limitation and disability and puts older Americans at greater risk of falls and other injuries. The four main causes of visual impairment are cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. There is effective treatment for cataracts and both glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy can be treated and their progression slowed with early detection. Treatment is not available for most cases of macular degeneration, and by the year 2030, it is expected that macular degeneration will cause more blindness in the U.S. than glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy combined. Glaucoma is twice as common among the black than the white older population and has doubled for African Americans since the 1980s. Age-related macular degeneration is more common in women than in men and in the white than the black older population. All visual impairments increase with age. 

A third of older Americans are hearing impaired. About one-quarter of those 70-74 years of age have hearing problems but this increased to half by age 85. Older men at all ages were more likely than women to be hearing impaired. Older people were less likely to have their hearing tested and use hearing aids than they were to have their eyes checked and wear glasses. 

You'll be more inclined to go to the Dentist on a regular basis and get dental work done sooner rather than later if you have Dental Insurance. Preventative care will prevent or lessen your risk. Individuals age 18-85 are eligible. Some plans have a family rate. Some plans have vision and hearing benefits.

I can help you with a plan to cover your dental, vision and hearing needs.  

For the BEST Dental/Vision/Hearing Insurance, call Tom @  (217) 778-8590