Oral Systemic News: Discovering Diabetes in Perio-pockets

Did you know that what is in your pockets could prove to be the oral systemic link revealing a serious, lurking health condition?

What pockets and what health disorders are we referring to? A (Feb.13, 2012) issue of ScienceDaily published a fascinating study indicating that oral blood samples drawn from deep pockets of periodontal inflammation can be used in measuring hemoglobin A1c. Why is this important? This test gauges a person’s diabetic status.

When should you be concerned? According to guidelines established by the American Diabetes Association, an A1c reading of 6.5 or more indicates a value in the diabetes range. In times past, such hemoglobin levels were tested from finger-stick blood samples. However when researchers at the NYU College of Dentistry compared samples of oral and finger-stick blood taken from 75 patients with periodontal disease, a reading of 6.3 or greater in the oral sample corresponded to a finger stick reading of 6.5. This aided greatly in identifying those whose levels were in the diabetes range.

“In light of these findings, the dental visit could be a useful opportunity to conduct an initial diabetes screening — an important first step in identifying those patients who need further testing to determine their diabetes status,” said the study’s principal investigator Dr. Sheila Strauss.

Help prevent or delay the long-term complications of diabetes that are responsible for a reduced quality of life and increased levels of mortality by requesting more information about the Oral Systemic Link from our Smile for Life Dentalpractice today!