Oral disease can exacerbate other health problems.

According to the Institute of Medicine, infections that begin in the mouth can travel throughout the body. Additionally, oral disease is associated with poor health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

For example, the American Academy of Periodontology states that diabetes may increase the risk for periodontal disease and that managing periodontal disease may improve diabetes control. 

The current status of dental coverage in the U.S. lags behind health coverage.

While 91 percent of Americans had medical insurance at the end of 2016, only 77 percent had dental insurance.

Helping Americans get access to dental coverage will reduce the number of people going to the emergency room for dental problems and consequently reduce medical costs.

Data shows untreated, often preventable, oral diseases send more than 2.1 million Americans to the emergency room each year.

A Health Policy Institute study found that moving people out of the emergency room and into the dentist’s office would improve Americans’ overall health while saving $1.7 billion a year.