National Smile Month: Bridging the Gap to Medicaid Dental Care Access

This National Smile Month, we’re underscoring the role of closed-loop referrals in improving dental care access for Medicaid recipients across Connecticut.

Oral health is more than just a bright smile; it’s a critical component of overall health and quality of life. June is National Smile Month; a reminder that good oral health habits are essential for overall health and well-being. But for many people, drivers of health like housing, food security, and transportation can stand in the way of accessing needed dental services and maintaining good oral health.

For instance, without stable housing or transportation, regular dental check-ups are challenging. Food insecurity can lead to poor nutrition, which can weaken the immune system and make individuals more susceptible to oral health problems. Recognizing and addressing these barriers is critical not only for improving health outcomes on an individual level—but for increasing efficiency and reducing costs for stakeholders across the entire continuum of care.

How Oral Health Impacts Overall Health

The connection between oral health and overall health is undeniable. Poor oral health can affect one’s ability to eat, speak, and socialize, which often exacerbates preexisting conditions and leads to a decrease in quality of life. This can also have significant psychological and mental health impacts, such as low self-esteem and social isolation.

Moreover, untreated oral health issues can lead to chronic pain, infections, and other serious health complications. For instance, gum disease has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

By removing barriers to dental care, especially for those insured by Medicaid, we can improve not only dental health but also overall health and well-being.

The True Cost of Untreated Oral Health Needs

Untreated oral health issues can have a significant financial impact on both individuals and the healthcare system. In the United States, the frequency of dental emergencies—one every 15 seconds—results in an annual cost of $2.7 billion to the healthcare system. For many, the inability to afford preventive care means waiting until problems worsen, resulting in higher expenses and more serious health outcomes that could have been avoided.

Why does this happen? When left untreated, a simple cavity that could have been treated with a filling might progress to a tooth abscess, requiring a root canal or even tooth extraction. These more advanced procedures aren’t just more costly but can also lead to additional health complications, such as infections that require hospitalization.

Additionally, untreated oral health issues can lead to missed work and school, further exacerbating economic and social challenges. Statistics show an average of 34 million school hours are lost each year because of unplanned (emergency) dental care, and over $45 billion in US productivity is lost each year due to untreated dental disease. By investing in preventive oral health care and addressing the underlying barriers, we can reduce these costs and improve health outcomes for everyone.

Customer Spotlight: 

Improving Medicaid Dental Access with the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership (CTDHP)

At Unite Us, we are proud to support innovative programs that address these barriers to oral health access. One such program is the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership (CTDHP), which is designed to provide comprehensive care that goes beyond traditional medical services.

Serving more than one million Medicaid members across the state, CTDHP has significantly improved dental access through the implementation of Unite Us’ closed-loop referral system. By leveraging real-time data and a high-touch service model, CTDHP’s use of the platform increased dental service utilization and highlights the effectiveness of combining technology with personalized care to address barriers and improve oral health access for Medicaid beneficiaries.

Key Takeaways from CTDHP’s Success: