Tricare enhances dental benefit for pregnant women
8/8/2008 - FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFPN) -- In response to research indicating the increased risk of dental disease during pregnancy, Tricare Management Activity recently approved an enhanced Maternity Dental Benefit through United Concordia, a dental contractor. The enhanced benefit authorizes an additional cleaning at no cost for all pregnant Tricare Dental Program enrollees.
"We are very excited that we can offer this enhanced benefit for our expectant TDP enrollees," said Dr. Gary Martin, Tricare Dental Care Branch chief.
Prior to the approved enhancement, which became effective in June, the TDP coverage allowed for two cleaning procedures in a consecutive 12-month period. The modification allows for a third cleaning for mothers-to-be in the 12-month period.
The American Dental Association stresses that maintaining good oral health is an important part of overall health, especially during pregnancy. Research suggests there may be a correlation between maternal gum disease and pre-term and low-birth-weight babies and that pregnant women with gum disease may be more likely to develop gestational diabetes.
"Any infection present in the mother can pose risks for her unborn baby," said Dr. Martin. "Therefore, it is extremely important to maintain good oral hygiene habits during pregnancy."
For more information about dental health during a pregnancy, visit http://www.ada.org/public/topics/pregnancy_faq.asp, and for more about the TRICARE Dental Program visit http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/Dental/DentalProgram.
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