The American Dental Association wrote an open letter to third-party insurers, Medicaid agencies and employer groups urging them to cover preventive dental services.
Several ADA leaders signed the letter, which pushed for insurers to cover services across patients’ lifespan, including fluoride treatments, dental sealants and regular periodontal care.
The leaders noted in the letter the link between oral health and overall wellbeing and other issues, such as lost school days for children, missed workdays and diminished job prospects for adults and reduced labor productivity. They also pointed to studies that show the economic benefit of investing money in preventive dental care by decreasing the need for emergency treatment.
