Study explores possible role for dentists in the fight against heart disease

CHICAGO, November 10, 2005—A new study published in the November issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) says dentists have a "unique opportunity" to help in the fight against heart attack, one of the leading causes of death in the United States.

Health care utilization patterns indicate that individuals may be more likely to see their dentist regularly than they are to see their physician, the JADA report says.

"This could place dentists in the frontlines for identifying patients at risk of coronary heart disease," says Michael Glick, D.M.D., who co-authored the study with Barbara L. Greenberg, Ph.D.

Dr. Glick is a professor and chair, the Department of Diagnostic Sciences, University of Dentistry and Medicine of New Jersey, School of Dentistry, where Dr. Greenberg is the acting associate dean of research. Dr. Glick also is editor of JADA, the nation’s leading dental journal.

Conducting medical history reviews and measuring patients' blood pressure are "common practices" for today's dentists, the researchers note. Such procedures, along with simple chairside screenings, help dentists provide proper dental care, but they also can point to "underlying medical conditions" and risk factors that could contribute to a heart attack. A patient found at risk would be referred to a physician for consultation and treatment.

"Our study clearly suggests that dentists can play an important role in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease," report Drs. Glick and Greenberg in the JADA study titled, "The potential role of dentists in identifying patients’ risk of experiencing coronary heart disease events."

The researchers note that some patients may resist having their dentist screen for conditions not related directly to dental health. But they also note that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for $368 billion in direct and indirect costs in 2004 alone.

"By collecting histories and conducting a few simple tests, dentists may be able to help reduce these enormous personal and financial costs," says Dr. Glick. "Most important, they may be able to help save lives."

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Note: Although this article appears in the Journal of the American Dental Association, it does not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the American Dental Association.

About the American Dental Association
The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 155,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. JADA, a monthly journal, is the ADA's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association's Web site at www.ada.org

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