Investing in Preventive Dental Care for the Medicare Population: A Preliminary Analysis

Abstract

Objectives-Estimate the use of preventive dental care services by the Medicare population and determine if dollars spent on preventive dental care save dollars spent on expensive non-preventive procedures?

Barriers to Dental Services for Older Adults

“…This gap in coverage is an important barrier to accessing care among older adults and should be addressed in the context of healthcare reform. 34,35 Second, comprehensive Medicaid adult dental benefits are not universal. Of the states that include dental benefits in Medicaid coverage, rolling back or eliminating adult dental benefits is often considered a way to contain state costs.…”

Out of sight, out of mind? The inclusion and identification of people with intellectual disability in public health research

“…They identified people with intellectual disability through disability pensions in which the main disabling condition was mental retardation. Moeller et al 31 used data from a cross-sectional survey of people who receive Medicare in the United States. They identified people with intellectual disability by a self-report or proxy report of a diagnosis of mental retardation by a doctor.…”

The Influence of Changes in Dental Care Coverage on Dental Care Utilization Among Retirees and Near-Retirees in the United States, 2004–2006

“…Taken together, these findings imply that the transition from work to retirement may lead to irregular patterns of dental care utilization. This could be problematic if those nearing retirement age could avoid high-cost treatments later in life through regular preventive care (9). …”