More Than Just A Dentist
The journal of the American Dentists Association has recently published findings that suggest dentists could play a much more central role in detecting serious non-oral health concerns.
The study, conducted in Sweden, involved a sample of 200 over 45s with no previous record of known cardiovascular issues. Rather than conducting the usual oral check-up, their dentists were asked to perform further tasks that are normally the preserve of GPs or other kinds of health care professionals. Patients’ blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels were all tested, and the figures were then used to calculate the patients’ potential risk of future cardiovascular disease using a software tool known as HeartScore.
From these check-ups, dentists involved in the study felt that 12 people in the sample had a 10 percent chance of developing a fatal heart condition over the next ten years, with 6 patients going on to be prescribed medication to lower their blood pressure – a potentially life saving decision!
Obviously these additional tests do add significantly to the time of each appointment, but it is undoubtedly an excellent way of making the most of what will probably be the only time most patients see a healthcare professional each year. This convergence of roles could have an added benefit to dental care in the UK, where dentist attendances are far lower than Sweden, by giving people who are more interested in the heart screening process the opportunity to have their teeth checked in the same appointment. You may even see the practise picked up by your cosmetic dentist in due course.
This report was welcomed by prominent dentists as a further sign of how the industry can contribute further to the overall health of their patients. “Dentistry is not simply about filling cavities and creating new smiles,” echoed cosmetic dentist Dr Rick Coker, Board member at the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics, “it is about saving lives.”
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry
Tags: American Dentists Association, cardiovascular disease, cosmetic dentist
| November 26, 2009 at 3:30 pm | No comment
