Many serious conditions can be detected in their early stages by an eye exam, including diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension. Dental exams can be just as revealing -- more than 90% of all common diseases have oral symptoms. Research show that's good oral health can help adults avoid or better manage serious health conditions like:

Diabetes. Periodontal infections contribute to problems with glycemic control, which compromises the health of diabetic patients.
Heart disease. The inflammation associated with periodontal disease has a high potential to contribute to coronary artery disease. Good oral health can lower that risk.
Pregnancy. Studies have indicated that mothers with high levels of certain oral bacteria were found to have children with similarly high levels of bacteria, along with a higher risk of tooth decay.
Self-esteem. Research shows that healthy teeth and gums are important to a person’s self-esteem and how they feel about themselves.

Whether you have perfect vision or need corrective lenses, preventative eye care is an important part of your overall health. More than 83% of Americans report using digital devices for more than two hours per day, and 60% report digital eye strain. For children, poor eyesight can lead to misdiagnosis of learning and psychiatric disorders which can result in behavioral problems.

Three-quarters of us use vision correction of some kind whether it be glasses or contact lenses. Thus, even if you have 20/20 vision now, chances are you’ll need corrective lenses at some point in your life. Adults and children alike should have an annual eye exam to test for such things as sharpness of vision, color blindness, how the eyes work together as a unit, the presence of glaucoma, and more. Eye exams can also provide early detection of serious conditions such as diabetes, glaucoma, and eye disease.

So when you’re considering a health plan to help cover the high costs of today’s medical care, be sure to think about adding dental and vision coverage. It can make all the difference to your overall health and wellness…and your wallet.

Visit the DentalVision and DentalVision Silver page for more information about Dental & Vision coverage.