Opportunistic health screening for cardiovascular and diabetes risk factors in primary care dental practices: experiences from a service evaluation and a call to action

Janine Doughty*, Gallier S M., Martha Paisi, Robert Witton, Daley A J.

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Introduction Substantial evidence has established associations between oral health and chronic diseases, mediated by common risk factors and inflammatory processes. Dental professionals are aptly positioned to screen for cardiovascular disease and diabetes high-risk indicators. This article presents a service evaluation of two dental practices delivering health screening in dental practice, and a call to action for the wider profession. Methods Following training, two general dental practices implemented a suite of health screens, including blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio. A service evaluation was undertaken to review and improve service provision. Results Most patients (78.4%) had blood pressure values above normal range. More than half (55.8%) were outside of the healthy range for BMI. Out-of-range results for cholesterol were observed in less than one-fifth (16.7%). High blood glucose values were observed for few patients (3.3%). Conclusion Dental professionals can be successfully trained to deliver health screening interventions. Out-of-range health screening results offer an opportunity to provide targeted health advice for both the oral and general health. Clear protocols and careful interpretation of screening tests are required to minimise patients' confusion. More robust alliances between dental and general medical care are recommended.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)727-733
Number of pages0
JournalBritish Dental Journal
Volume235
Issue number9
Early online date10 Nov 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Nov 2023

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