Challenging the Status Quo: Serving Unmet Needs and Enhancing Dry Mouth Care

Photos: Genecraft

In today's dental landscape, the commodification of services has transformed care into a transactional experience, often prioritizing cost over patient-centered outcomes. This shift has depersonalized interactions with patients, eroded trust, and left many needs unmet. As dental professionals, we face the challenge of navigating a market that reduces complex care to a mere product, undervaluing the comprehensive and transformative service we provide. This challenge, however, presents a profound opportunity to redefine our role within the medical community and reinforce the value we offer as essential healthcare providers.

The key to redefining value in dental care lies in adopting a Value-Based Care approach, which shifts the focus from cost alone to the tangible improvement in health outcomes. Value, in this context, is measured by the enhancement of a patient’s overall health and quality of life, not merely the delivery of individual procedures. By embracing this approach, we as providers can transcend the commodified model and deliver care that genuinely improves patient well-being.

Embracing Value-Based Care in Dentistry

Incorporating Value Based Care into dentistry requires a shift in mindset—a move from treating dental procedures as isolated events to considering the broader implications of our work on patients' lives. For example, the success of dental implants is not just about osseointegration or aesthetic appeal; it’s about restoring function, enhancing comfort, and improving the patient's overall quality of life. This means addressing not only the technical aspects of implant placement but also the underlying conditions that may affect long-term success, such as periodontal health and systemic factors.

Addressing periodontal disease before implant placement, for instance, is crucial for full-mouth care. It sets the stage for successful implant outcomes and aligns with the principles of Value Based Care by prioritizing long-term health over short-term gains. By treating periodontal issues comprehensively, we enhance the durability of implants and reduce the likelihood of complications, thereby adding real value to our patients' care.

Moreover, Value Based Care encourages us to look beyond the immediate clinical outcomes and consider the patient's broader experience. This includes understanding and addressing often-overlooked conditions such as dry mouth, which can significantly impact patient satisfaction and quality of life.

Aquoral: Revolutionizing Dry Mouth Care

Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is a condition that affects approximately 22% of adults, with even higher rates among older populations and those using CPAP machines or managing multiple medications. Despite its prevalence and impact on oral health, xerostomia is often underdiagnosed and undertreated in dental practices. There are many causes ranging from medication side effects, autoimmune disease, head and neck cancers, and lifestyle choices. American Dental Association states that reduced salivary flow can cause difficulties in tasting, chewing, swallowing, and speaking; it can also increase the chance of developing dental caries, demineralization of teeth, tooth sensitivity, and/or oral and periodontal infections. Addressing dry mouth is not just about relieving discomfort; it’s about improving the overall health and well-being of our patients.

The most frequent cause of dry mouth is the use of medications with a patients risk of dry mouth symptoms increasing in proportion the number of medications they take. Studies showing the prevalence of symptoms of dry mouth among individuals 20–80 years as 17% in those taking no medication, 33.5% in those taking 3 medications and 67% with the use of more than or equal to 7 medications. Certain drugs, including antidepressants, antihistamines, antihypertensives, and antimuscarinics, are not the only ones that impact a patients’ salivary flow but these are particularly implicated. Another cross section of the population found in our practices that are impacted by dry mouth are CPAP users. For example, about 33 million adults in the United States use a CPAP machine to treat obstructive sleep apnea and 40% of patients on CPAP therapy experience dry mouth , with users discontinuing use of their needed appliance due to discomfort and symptoms there is a clear need for dry mouth relief.

Traditional treatments for dry mouth, such as water-based solutions, chewing gum, or systemic medications like cevimeline and pilocarpine, either fall short of providing lasting relief or come with side effects. Water-based solutions are often bulky bottles, need frequent reapplication, and do not offer long-lasting moisture, while systemic medications can cause uncomfortable side effects, such as sweating, frequent urination, and diarrhea, making them less tolerable for patients. Aquoral, a revolutionary prescription-based lipid solution, offers a significant advancement for dry mouth care in an applicator that can fit in a pocket. Unlike traditional water-based treatments, Aquoral’s lipid-based formulation provides moisture that lasts up to six hours—twice as long as many over-the-counter alternatives and it doesn’t wash away when consuming water based beverages. This extended duration of relief means patients can experience sustained comfort without the need for constant reapplication, enhancing their overall quality of life.

Aquoral’s innovative approach is rooted in its Oxidized Glycerol Triester (OGT) technology, which creates a protective layer over the oral mucosa, offering superior lubrication and moisture retention. This is particularly beneficial for patients who experience dry mouth during sleep, such as CPAP users, who often suffer from disrupted sleep due to the need for frequent sips of water. With Aquoral, these patients can enjoy longer periods of uninterrupted sleep, significantly improving their overall well-being.

Integrating Aquoral into a practice addresses a critical aspect of patient care while enhancing service offerings. By effectively screening for and managing dry mouth, we improve outcomes and satisfaction within our patient base, distinguishing our practice in a crowded market and demonstrating a commitment to comprehensive care. Embracing innovations like Aquoral and incorporating a Value-Based Care approach allows dental professionals to transcend the commoditized model of care, offering truly patient-centered services. This not only improves patient outcomes but also reinforces our role as essential healthcare providers, focusing on the whole patient and delivering transformative care that redefines our value in the eyes of patients and the broader medical community. By prioritizing long-term health outcomes and patient satisfaction, we position ourselves as leaders in modern dental healthcare, capable of providing effective and meaningful care.

Incorporating in-office dispensing into your practice offers a powerful way to enhance patient care while improving practice efficiency and profitability. Aquoral is available for distribution through an in-office dispensing model. Offering Aquoral on-site can eliminate the need for patients to make separate pharmacy trips, improving adherence to treatment plans and increasing patient satisfaction. Additionally, in-office dispensing presents a significant revenue opportunity, allowing practices to capture the full value of product sales while ensuring competitive pricing. This model supports a Value-Based Care approach by prioritizing long-term oral health outcomes, as patients are more likely to follow recommended treatment regimens when they have easy access to products that address their conditions effectively. By strategically offering in-office dispensing solutions, practices position themselves as trusted, patient-centric providers. This enhances clinical outcomes, boosts revenue, and strengthens loyalty, ultimately fostering a practice culture that values comprehensive, innovative, and convenient patient care.