Research Shows Dentists Could Prevent Illness Progression with Routine Checkup

According to new research, dental specialists who are taught to identify some of the primary signs of a variety of illnesses can significantly improve their patients’ health. 

The Reseach was included in the British Dental Journal and titled, “Opportunistic health screening for cardiovascular and diabetes risk factors in primary care dental practices: experiences from a service evaluation and a call to action.” The research pertained to two dental clinics who screened for cholesterol, blood pressure, blood-sugar levels, and BMI. 

The clinics screened over 500 individuals and found that more than 3 quarters had above average blood pressure levels and over 50% were not within the recommended BMI values.  

Every patient who fell outside of the healthy range was encouraged to schedule a follow-up consultation with their doctor. 

Head author of the research, Dr Janine Doughty stated, “A health check at the dentist could provide reassurance for many patients, and a wake-up call for others to become healthier.” 

Dr Doughty went on to add, “We have someone already sitting in the chair, who visits the dentist every six to 12 months, yet who may not have seen a GP for years. It is simple to give them a few minutes of health checks at the same time.” 

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