Dentists Helpful in Identifying Patients At-Risk for Heart Attack, Stroke

The mouth is often overlooked by medical practitioners as a source of disease, and several studies have found a causal association between poor periodontal health and cardiovascular disease (CVD).  Mats Jontell, from Sahlgrenska Academy (Sweden), and colleagues, studied 200 men and women over the age of 45 who did not have any known cardiovascular problems, who went to routine dental visits at which they were also screened for blood pressure, total cholesterol, and blood sugar level.  These screenings identified twelve men with a 10% risk of developing a fatal cardiovascular disease over the next ten years, six of whom were found to have significantly elevated blood pressure that subsequently required medication.   The team urges that: “Oral health care professionals can identify patients who are unaware of their risk of developing serious complications as a result of CVD and who are in need of medical intervention.”