People who can’t afford dental care may be at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease or dementia, according to a study led by researchers at Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH).

Researchers analyzed survey data among participants ages 55+ in the All of Us study. A total of 88,496 people were analyzed for incident heart attacks; 86,593 people for heart failure; 88,410 people for strokes; and 92,272 people for dementia.

People who skipped dental checkups and procedures because they could not afford them had higher incidences of all of the above conditions.

On a population level, eliminating the financial barriers that prevented people from receiving dental care could prevent 2%-4% of each outcome among older adults, the researchers found.

“Multiple studies have evaluated pieces of this puzzle, but this is the first time we can point to  financial barriers to care as being linked with the incidence of cardiovascular disease and dementia, two leading causes of disability and death among older adults,” said study senior author Kendra Sims, PhD. “This study serves as an indicator that if we alleviate upstream factors such as financial constraints, we can prevent chronic disease.”

Policies that facilitate access to preventive dental care could widely reduce poor oral health outcomes, with benefits that extend to cardiovascular and cognitive outcomes, the researchers suggest. For example, states that extended dental care under the Affordable Care Act reported an increase in dental visits, fewer missing teeth, and better overall oral functioning. These dental visits also present an opportunity to conduct other health screenings.

“People who can access and afford routine dental care typically visit the dentist twice a year,” Sims said. “What if insurance could cover screening for cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes or hypertension when a patient is in the chair?”

To download the abstract of the study, published in The Journals of Gerontology Series A, click here