We have designed our health care system so that dentists take care of your mouth and physicians are responsible for the rest of your body. However, these two pieces interact in many important ways, and keeping them separate can cause significant complications. Yesterday’s Kevin Cullen column in the Boston Globe demonstrates the dangers of separating the mouth from the rest of the body.
The mouth is the gateway to the body. Infections that start in the mouth can travel through the rest of the body, creating or encouraging serious long-term health problems. In this particular case, 4-year old Haylee “has Velocardiofacial syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes developmental delays. It also prevents her from producing enamel, something [her mom] found out when she brought Haylee to the dentist in November and was shocked to learn that half of her teeth had cavities.”
Although several doctors stated that the problems in Haylee’s mouth stemmed completely from her medical problem, her medical insurance would not cover the full costs of necessary surgery, claiming that some of it was considered “dental.” Even with dental coverage, Haylee’s mom was left with over $2,000 in fees for Haylee’s treatment.
Because we have left the mouth out of medical care, there are serious gaps left in coverage. If we want to build a truly comprehensive health care system so that kids like Haylee cannot fall through the cracks, we must ensure that oral health is included in overall health care.
-Christine Keeves
