New research by Dutch scientists suggests that it may be possible to detect early-stage type 2 diabetes when you consult a dentist for routine maintenance on your teeth and smile.
Key Takeaways:
– When dentists found severe periodontitis while checking their patients’ teeth, those same patients were later found to be more than twice as likely to have suspected diabetes.
– Your smile is a potent indicator of your overall health – not only can it help predict diabetes, but it can also potentially reveal problems like myocardial infarctions and heart disease.
– About 70% of Americans see a dentist at least once a year, so if it becomes possible to conduct diabetes screening at a dentist’s office, it could allow far more developing diabetics to get the early interventions they need for the best outcomes.
“A dental office that treats patients with severe periodontitis is a suitable location for screening for (pre)diabetes; a considerable number of suspected new diabetes cases were identified and indicated that periodontitis is an early sign of diabetes mellitus.”
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