Answer library
Dental & Vision
Why dental and vision coverage is worth it, and what exams catch.
Dental
- Preventing oral health problems before they start is one of the best ways to keep dental costs down.
- Regular dental check-ups and cleanings help keep teeth and gums healthy.
- Visiting a dentist regularly can lead to early detection of serious diseases — which alone can make dental insurance well worth the investment.
- Surveys find that a person’s smile is their most important feature.
- People with gum disease are two times more likely to suffer from coronary heart disease.
- “Poor oral health increases one’s risk of heart disease by 180 percent, risk of stroke by 300 percent and risk of respiratory infection by 500 percent.” (AARP Bulletin, January 2011)
- Routine oral health exams can uncover symptoms of diabetes, osteoporosis, and low bone mass (WebMD.com, American Dental Association, American Dental Hygienists’ Association).
- Complications associated with gum disease:
- Tooth loss
- Coronary artery disease
- Stroke
- Premature, low-birth-weight babies
- Poorly controlled diabetes
- Respiratory problems
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Asthma
Vision
- Good visual health is critical to your quality of life — it lets you see the world, drive, read, watch TV, and play sports.
- More than 11 million Americans have an uncorrected visual impairment that can impact quality of life and, in some cases, lead to more serious eye conditions (National Eye Institute).
- Annual eye appointments are important; a yearly comprehensive eye exam helps protect your vision.
- Comprehensive eye exams include:
- pupil dilation
- retinal examination
- glaucoma testing
- visual field tests
- eye muscle tests
- standard vision tests
- Annual eye exams are about more than just whether you need glasses or contacts.
- With 75% of people needing some type of vision correction, a vision plan is a good value.
- About 93 million American adults are at high risk for serious vision loss, and only about half visited an eye doctor in the past 12 months (CDC).
- Signs that it’s time to check your vision:
- blurred vision
- headaches
- glare / halos around lights
- squinting
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