Dentists seek to warn of medical conditions

Dentists want to play a key role in signalling serious medical conditions in patients.

The Irish Dental Association (IDA) is keen to meet doctors to explore how both professions can work better together on behalf of their patients.

Dentists believe a new system of risk-profiling patients might act as a warning system for chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Newly-elected IDA president, Dr P J Byrne, said a new risk profile document would be ready for use at dental clinics in a matter of months.

However, he told more than 500 delegates at the association’s annual conference in Galway yesterday that putting a systematic process in place to capture the relevant information is just the first step.

There has to be follow through with other medical professionals, especially doctors.

“Dentists see patients with pre-diabetic conditions, often unknowingly, on a regular basis. In many cases this is manifest in poorly-controlled periodontal [gum] conditions,” said Dr Byrne.

Dentists warn patients of the danger signs and advise them to follow it up with their GP, but it could be many years later when they returned to the clinic, having been diagnosed with diabetes.

Dr Byrne said they now know from research that there is a link between inflammation-based chronic diseases, such as arthritis, lung disease, and Crohn’s disease and gum disease.

“An integrated treatment programme which addresses chronic diseases such as diabetes, or other inflammation-based chronic conditions and gum disease will lead to better outcomes for the patient.”

Prof Bob Genco, a leading American authority on the links between gum disease and chronic disease, has backed the IDA’s approach.