Does Medicaid Coverage Modify the Relationship between Glycemic Status and Teeth Present in Older Adults?
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
|November 20, 2018
Summary
Diabetes impacts the number of teeth present in older adults, with dental insurance playing a key role. Medicaid coverage showed an inverse relationship between diabetes and tooth retention.
Area of Science:
- Oral health research
- Geriatric medicine
- Health services research
Background:
- Diabetes and oral health are interconnected, particularly in older adults.
- Dental insurance coverage influences access to and utilization of oral healthcare services.
- Understanding these relationships is crucial for integrated health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between diabetes, number of teeth present, and dental insurance status in older adults.
- To identify how different types of dental insurance modify the relationship between diabetes and oral health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of older adults attending senior centers in northern Manhattan.
- Data collection included sociodemographic, health information, clinical dental examinations for teeth present, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) for glycemic status.
- Analysis of dental insurance coverage status for 785 participants (1,015 with imputation).
Main Results:
- Participants with diabetes had fewer teeth present compared to those without diabetes, irrespective of having no dental insurance or private/other insurance.
- This relationship was reversed for participants with Medicaid coverage only.
- Fewer teeth were present in diabetic individuals with Medicaid compared to non-diabetic individuals with Medicaid.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that dental insurance type significantly modifies the impact of diabetes on oral health in older adults.
- Limited dental services under Medicaid and potential disparities in diabetes care may explain the reversed association observed in Medicaid recipients.
- Further research is needed to explore interventions for improving oral health outcomes for diabetic individuals with Medicaid coverage.
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