Oral Health Research Paper

Healthy People 2020 has emphasized the importance of oral health to a patient’s overall health and well-being (Oral Health, 2018). This paper will discuss and evaluate the importance of oral health to the overall health of an individual. Also, it will provide an outline as to why the policy provision of Medicare for dental benefits should be revised in relation to preventative care for primary prevention (Chávez, Jones, & Calvo, 2017). The Role of Oral Health According to Griffin, et al (2012) Maintaining a healthy mouth is vital in protecting an individual from certain diseases and infections. For instance, an oral infection such as gum disease puts a person at risk for preterm labor, heart attack, poorly controlled diabetes, and stroke. On the other hand, elements of dental care that are covered by Medicare include situations such as damaging of the jaw as a result of an accident (Chávez et al.

In such a case, Medicare will directly cover the costs of reconstruction of the mandible. Medicare also covers tooth construction caused directly by a disease (Nanof, 2016). Patients who undergo emergency and complicated dental procedures requiring hospitalization are covered by Medicare Part A only for the hospitalization, leaving the cost of the dental procedure to the patient (Griffin et al. Medicare also provides coverage for preliminary dental exams in the event that a patient is undergoing a complicated procedure such as a kidney or heart transplant which would require detailed medical clearance (Hein & Williams, 2018). Another advantage is that nurses comprise the largest population of medical staff making up approximately 4 million professionals (Griffin et al. Nurses are also most abundant in practice and can be found in hospitals, schools, retail clinics, camps, homecare and even in non-healthcare related workplaces.

One of the nursing bodies is the Oral Health Education Nursing and Practice (OHNEP) which was created to manage oral healthcare. The role of nurses in the provision of oral health varies among various stages of an individual’s lives (Singhal et al. Pregnancy is a common part of healthcare in which nurses play a crucial role. Due to minimal or lack of income and insurance, senior citizens prefer to ignore regular dental check-ups regardless of how much they may be suffering concerning their oral health (Griffin et al. Private insurance covers do not assist as much, and thus a low number of patients select this option (Sud, 2016). Resolutions The significant role of oral health to the overall well-being of an individual implies that awareness should be created with an emphasis on availability and easy accessibility of dental care (Griffin et al.

Individuals who suffer from diseases requiring expensive dental procedures do not have Medicare cover to pay these bills. These are the main areas which could be sufficiently impacted to promote general improvement in oral health as well as promote preventative care in primary prevention. Some medical procedures and conditions declared medically necessary include; organ transplant and valvular heart disease, lymphoma, leukemia, head, and neck cancer (Sud, 2016). Amendments and revisions should be considered for full coverage of dental procedures involved in the prevention of potentially fatal diseases. Preferred Solution A preferred solution to incorporate in the aspect of preventative dental care and primary prevention of oral health is the creation of awareness. I firmly believe that increasing public awareness on the importance of maintaining proper oral health as well as the dangers of not ensuring proper oral health can significantly impact the prevention of illnesses and conditions resulting from neglected oral health.

The best way to create awareness is to keep the community informed on the risks they make themselves vulnerable to and let them know what measures they should take to avoid these risks (Willink, Schoen, & Davis, 2016). Osteoporosis is a disease that has the effect of causing bones to be brittle and weak. This disease is also likely to cause tooth loss and periodontal bone loss. Furthermore, medication administered for osteoporosis may damage the bones of the jaw. Other diseases that could potentially impact the oral health of an individual include Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, eating disorders, neck and head cancers, and Sjogren’s syndrome (Willink, Schoen, & Davis, 2016). The general public should be aware that maintaining oral health involves a set of simple habits.