Why Whole-Person Health Includes Dental And Vision Care

When people think about staying healthy, they often focus on annual physicals, prescriptions, or treating symptoms as they appear. But there is a bigger picture to consider.

Our bodies are connected, and small changes in one area can sometimes signal bigger concerns elsewhere. That’s why a whole person, or holistic, approach to health care focuses not only on treating illnesses and managing chronic conditions, but also on prevention, early detection, and supporting overall well-being.

Routine care — including dental and vision checkups — plays an important role in that bigger picture.

These appointments may seem easy to postpone, especially when life gets busy. But regular dental cleanings and eye exams can help detect health concerns early, sometimes before noticeable symptoms begin, as well as help manage ongoing concerns.

Dr. Thomas Graf, vice president and chief medical officer, health services, Florida Blue says:

"I know people usually focus on medical coverage first. But dental exams and vision screenings can sometimes detect that something else is going on, like diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease. This care helps identify concerns earlier when treatment may be simpler and more manageable."

Prevention supports overall health

Whole-person health means understanding how different kinds of physical health as well as mental well-being all work together.

For example, oral health is tied to overall health. Gum disease has been linked to serious conditions including diabetes, cancers, heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, and pregnancy complications. 1

Eye health can also provide important clues about a person’s overall wellness. Because many eye conditions develop gradually without pain or noticeable symptoms, routine eye exams may help detect early signs of glaucoma, diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, and other health concerns.

Yet many people still delay this routine care. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 65% of adults had a dental exam or cleaning in the past year, 2 while 40% of adults at higher risk for vision loss did not receive an eye exam. 3

Making preventive care access easier

Allison Brown, senior director of product management and reporting at Florida Blue, says access to dental and vision care is an important part of supporting overall health.

She explains:

"Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [CMS] recognizes how important dental and vision care is to overall health by requiring health plans to include pediatric dental and vision benefits.  At Florida Blue, we too, believe dental and vision care are important parts of overall well-being. That’s why we offer health plans with embedded dental and vision benefits for adults, along with standalone dental and vision coverage for employers and members. These plans are designed to make preventive care accessible and affordable, with many offering little to no out-of-pocket costs for preventive services such as routine dental cleanings and eye exams."

Ensuring that access to this care is available makes it easier for members to stay on top of their oral, vision, and overall health.

The effects reach beyond health

Skipping preventive care can affect more than physical health alone.

Untreated dental and vision problems can impact work, school, driving, daily activities, and overall quality of life — especially when changes happen gradually and go unnoticed.

Research shows that oral health issues contribute to millions of lost work and school hours each year.* In many cases, delaying routine care can eventually lead to more serious and costly medical needs.

The effects are also showing up in emergency rooms. The American Dental Association estimates that dental pain leads to about 2 million emergency room visits nationwide each year. In Florida alone, more than 146,000 hospital visits in 2024 were tied to non-traumatic dental conditions, resulting in nearly $686 million in hospital charges. 4

According to data from the Journal of the American Medical Association: Ophthalmology, nearly half of all eye-related ER visits in the U.S. are for non-urgent conditions. To put this into perspective, for every 100 ER visits for eye problems, about 44 are for conditions that aren’t immediately life-threatening. 5

Many of these visits may have been preventable — and less costly — with earlier treatment and routine care.

The bottom line

Protecting your health does not always require a major lifestyle change. Sometimes, it starts with a small step, like keeping up with the routine care that is easiest to postpone.

Dental cleanings, eye exams, annual checkups, preventive screenings, and mental health support all play a role in whole-person health. These services help support early detection, improve long-term outcomes, and may help lower overall health care costs.

If it has been a while since your last dental screening or eye exam, this a reminder to schedule the care that helps support your overall health — not just one part of it.

Sources

1National Institute of Health: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body.

2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early Release of Selected Estimates Based on Data From the 2023 National Health Interview Survey.

3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fast Facts: 4 in 10 Adults at High Risk for Vision Loss.

4American Dental Association. Emergency department referrals.

5Journal of the American Medical Association: Ophthalmology. Epidemiology of Eye-Related Emergency Department Visits.

*CareQuest Institute (2024, Feb. 6) The Hour of Need—Productivity Time Lost Due to Urgent Oral Health Needs.