NBC’s Nicola Spector takes a look at why dental work is not covered under medical insurance. She notes modern dentistry’s roots are in the barbershop rather than more traditional medical practice. Until the nineteenth century, dentistry was practiced in the same chair in which men got their hair cut and their beards trimmed. Dr. Gary Glassman, an endodontist based in Toronto, Canada who also practices in the U.S., says such divergence between dental and medical is not helpful because “oral health is directly related to general health . . . The oral cavity is a gateway to your body. A lot of stuff in the mouth can indicate kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, HPV, cancer, etc. Your dentist can be your first line of defense.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Adam C. Powell, president of healthcare-focused management advisory and operational consulting firm Payer+Provider Syndicate, notes that “Dental insurance, unlike medical, is not regulated and it tends to be very constrained . . . The annual maximum benefit is not that high, and there’s usually some sort of deductible.”
Read more at NBC News