by CDC study shows that adults with diabetes at increased chance of tooth loss
A recent study released by the CDC (Atlanta, GA) found that while tooth loss has decreased over the last forty years, U.S. adults with diabetes lose twice as many teeth as adults without diabetes. Black Americans with diabetes are at greater risk of experiencing tooth loss as they age than are white or Mexican Americans with diabetes, according to researchers at Duke University. While overall tooth loss declined over the period from 1971-2012, tooth loss remained more common in people with diabetes. The researchers suggest the apparent racial difference could be a result of historical challenges non-Hispanic blacks faced in obtaining proper dental care because of a lack of dental services and dental knowledge. Read the full study online at www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2015/15_0309.htm.
CMS report finds national dental spending in 2014 increased to $113B
According to a study in Health Affairs, spending in 2014 on dental and oral healthcare in the U.S. increased to more than $113 billion, a 2.8 percent increase from 2013. The growth in spending on dental care did not match the overall growth in healthcare spending, which in the same time period increased 5.3 percent to $3 trillion. According to a CMS (Baltimore, MD) official, the increase was likely the result of strong growth in private health insurance spending, which was largely influenced by the coverage expansions associated with the Affordable Care Act. The authors attributed the acceleration in health spending growth in 2014 to faster growth in private health insurance and Medicaid spending in 2014 compared with 2013 as well as increased spending on retail prescription drugs. The authors also found that the per-enrollee Medicaid spending declined at a rate of 2.0 percent in 2014 after growing 4.1 percent in 2013. The authors attributed this change to the influx of newly insured lower-cost adults and children.
Great Expressions grows to nearly 100 practices in Florida
Great Expressions Dental Centers (GEDC), announced its affiliation with Dentaland, a conglomerate of seven dental practices in Southeastern Florida. The affiliation extends the organization’s footprint to nearly 100 offices in the state. The original Dentaland practice was founded by Dr. Jeffrey Feingold, Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, in 1975. It has since grown to seven practices with 27 general dentists and specialists, 11 dental hygienists, and a total of 100 other staff members. For over 40 years, Dr. Feingold has led Dentaland’s doctors and staff in meeting the dental health needs of more than two million patients through cutting-edge treatment. Today, across the organization’s seven locations, services include cosmetic dentistry, periodontics, implants, oral surgery, orthodontics, Invisalign, pediatric dentistry, and digital technologies.
“Our continued growth and investment in Florida are a direct reflection of the positive patient response to our services that we’ve seen in the area,” said Richard Beckman, CEO of Great Expressions Dental Centers. “Dentaland has long been a valued community partner in Southeastern Florida from Aventura to Melbourne; we look forward to carrying on the tradition of tremendous patient service and care that they have established.”
This affiliation will extend new offerings to patients, including The Great Expressions Smile Protection PlanSM, which provides a discount dental plan membership for patients without insurance. The partnership will also offer expanded medical benefits to employees across the seven offices.
“Joining forces with Great Expressions Dental Centers is a step in the right direction for Dentaland’s staff and patients alike,” said Dr. Feingold. “I established a model of quality care for patients at affordable fees when I opened the first Dentaland and have sustained that philosophy throughout years of the organization’s growth. Both Dentaland and Great Expressions have an impressive history of commitment to all-inclusive patient care. This shared mission will ensure a seamless transition and bring expanded offerings to our longtime patients.”
“The pairing of Dentaland and Great Expressions is a good fit, given the history of growth and quality care at each of the two companies as well as the focus on training and advancement of employees,” added Jamison Carson, a registered representative of M&A Securities Group, Inc., financial advisory for Dentaland.
Heartland Dental now supporting additional offices in 12 states
Heartland Dental (Effingham, IL), a dental service organization, now supports existing offices in the following locations:
- Chandler, AZ
- Bridgeton, MO
- Lake St. Louis, MO
- Easley, SC
Heartland Dental now supports newly opened offices in the following locations:
- Prattville, AL
- Deltona, Orlando, Port Orange, and Titusville, FL
- Dacula and Dallas, GA
- Ankeny, IA
- Round Lake Beach, IL
- Plainfield, IN
- Aberdeen, MD
- Easton and Washington, PA
- Indian Land and North Charleston, SC
- Smyrna and Spring Hill, TN
Guidelines for Americans: Limit your intake of sugars
New Dietary Guidelines from HHS and USDA advise limiting intake of added sugars
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (Washington, DC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) (Washington, DC) released the “2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.” The updated guidelines recommend that Americans limit added sugars to 10 percent of their daily calorie intake. The 2015 updated guidelines are the eighth edition of the recommendations but the first to include a recommended limit to the consumption of added sugars. The guidelines define “added sugars” as sugars and syrups that are included in foods or beverages when they are processed or prepared. As such, the guideline does not apply to naturally occurring sugars, like those in fruits and milk. The American Dental Association (ADA) (Chicago, IL) when the guidelines were proposed in 2015 largely endorsed the recommendation on added sugars and applauded the organizations for recognizing dental caries and noted that all sugars, including all-natural fruit juices, can damage teeth. The ADA also supported the recommendation to include added sugars on Nutrition and Supplement Facts labels. The change to food labels is still under FDA (Silver Spring, MD) consideration.
