The study followed extensive training of dental staff, included checks for blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-height ratio.
The authors claim a staggering 78.4 percent of patients recorded blood pressure values above the normal range, while over half (55.8 percent) had BMIs outside the healthy bracket.
The study concluded that “Out-of-range health screening results offer an opportunity to provide targeted health advice for both the oral and general health.”
Dr Kiran Kumar, says, “Our oral health is a window to our overall health, and as dentists, we are uniquely positioned to detect early signs of systemic health issues.”
He adds, “The connection between dental health and diseases like diabetes has been established for years. Certain oral health issues can hint at the overall health.”
Dr Bhavani Swarna advocates for a joint approach, involving routine dental check-ups and possible ENT referrals, to address these conditions effectively.