Dentists important in detecting health conditions

Given the link between oral health and conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, a leading college has said that dentists could play a greater role in detecting health conditions.

With the NHS Long Term Plan including a major emphasis on the importance of preventing ill health, the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons said that there is an opportunity to reflect on what dentistry is for and how oral health professionals can provide the best possible care for their patients. The FDS’ Position Statement suggests that they could play a greater role in supporting patients’ general health, both by helping to diagnose certain wider health problems and by providing preventative health advice.

The organisations claims that oral health should be included in the government’s upcoming Green Paper on Prevention and that national and local public health campaigns should always utilise dentists in the delivery of health and lifestyle advice.

There is also a recognised association between oral disease (particularly chronic gum disease) and cardiovascular diseases. The link between the two conditions means that dentists and oral health professionals are well positioned to support those at risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, initiatives to diagnose diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as other conditions such as child obesity and eating disorders, should engage dentists and oral health professionals wherever possible.

Michael Escudier, Dean of the FDS, said: “Good oral health is essential for our overall wellbeing.  In recent years there has been increasing evidence of the link between oral health and general health. Dentists and other members of the oral healthcare team always inspect a patient’s mouth in the course of treatment. This provides them with an opportunity to monitor, on an ongoing basis, how their patient’s health is changing.  

“While checking a patient’s oral health, they can look for relevant signs of other conditions – chronic gum disease can be an indicator of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, for example. They can also offer advice on what dietary and lifestyle changes patients could make to improve their overall health, which can also help to prevent conditions such as obesity and oral cancer.”