People who were treated for periodontal disease had lower healthcare costs and fewer hospitalisations for other medical conditions – type 2 diabetes; coronary artery disease; cerebral vascular disease; rheumatoid arthritis; and pregnancy – compared to those whose gum disease went untreated, a study has found. Study author, [b]University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine’s[/b] Dr Marjorie Jeffcoat said in a [s]Reuters Health[/s] report that a number of previous small studies hinted that treating periodontal disease may help improve other medical conditions as well and reduce the risk of premature birth among pregnant women. The study doesn’t prove treating gum disease improved other conditions, but Jeffcoat believes the findings are strong enough to recommend that doctors have their patients checked for periodontal disease.
[link url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/27/us-gum-disease-health-costs-idUSKBN0F21IC20140627]Full Reuters Health report[/link]
[link url=http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(14)00153-6/abstract]American Journal of Preventive Medicine abstract[/link]