Dear DrBicuspid Member,
Dental offices are uniquely suited for screening patients for systemic conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, and hypertension. But many dental practitioners regard these kinds of medical tests as being outside the scope of practice and are hesitant to add them to standard patient exams.
A study in the latest Journal of the American Dental Association looked specifically at blood glucose testing (BGT) in dental offices and found that most providers and patients regarded BGT as beneficial and easy after becoming familiar with the process. Read more in this Practice Management Community feature.
In other research news, teeth in obese children erupt sooner than those in non-obese children, which could have implications for the timing of dental and orthodontic treatment, according to a new study in the journal Obesity.
And in Hygiene Community news, just because patients with congenital heart disease are diagnosed and receive initial treatment in childhood, does not mean they are cured. In fact, poor oral hygiene habits can put these patients at risk for endocarditis, according to research presented last week at the 12th Annual Spring Meeting on Cardiovascular Nursing.
Finally, over in the Imaging Community, a new computed radiography system that uses thin phosphor plates and radio frequency identification technology to reduce errors and improve workflow may help dental offices bridge the gap as they begin the transition from conventional to digital x-ray imaging. Read more.
