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Staging and Grading for Periodontitis

According to CDC, the five most prevalent chronic noncommunicable diseases in the US are cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and chronic kidney disease. These collectively affect six in 10 US adults and account for $4.1 trillion in annual health-care expenditure.1  

Periodontitis as the link 

We need to start to use the Staging and Grading, since it is best for all billing, dental and medical.

What most physicians have not yet fully integrated into practice, and what most dentists have not yet fully leveraged, is that every one of those conditions shares a mechanistic, bidirectional relationship with a disease they diagnose and treat every single day: periodontitis. 

This is not a correlation or coincidence; it is established biology.  Empowerment is intentional. As the practice leader, you can guide your team to recognize periodontitis as both a risk factor for and a condition exacerbated by noncommunicable diseases, demonstrating its bidirectional impact.2 

The oral cavity is integral to systemic health. Inflammation from untreated periodontal disease extends beyond the mouth, worsening the chronic conditions your patients already manage. As a leader, you must ensure your practice acts on this knowledge. 

A changing patient landscape 

Gen-Xers, millennials, and Gen Z patients are sitting in your chairs tracking their resting heart rate, HRV, sleep stages, and blood glucose using wearable devices. They are active participants in their own biology, and they are looking for providers who meet them there. 

 Healthcare Analyst estimates that the global market for preventive health-care technologies and services will reach $532 billion by 2034.3 Conversations will shift from “does my insurance cover this?” to “how will this improve my overall health span and protect my quality of life?” Will you and your team have the protocols in place and the shared language ready to answer those questions?  

Implementing systemic health protocols can improve patient outcomes and support practice growth. Transitioning from a traditional dental model to an oral health wellness center will set your practice apart. The hygiene operatory is a valuable clinical asset for delivering comprehensive, oral-systemic care. This shift may also encourage your team to make better personal health choices. 

Contact Christine www.dentalmedicalbilling.com and she will send you a copy of the staging and grading.

1 Tooth Loss1,5

  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Dementia
  • Diabetes

Gum Disease2,3,4,6,7,8

  1. Alzheimer’s Disease
  2. Arthritis
  3. Asthma
  4. Cardiovascular Disease
  5. Dementia
  6. Depression
  7. Diabetes
  8. Kidney Disease
  9. Leukemia
  10. Oral Cancer
  11. Osteoporosis
  12. Pre-term Birth
  13. Stroke Risk

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