How to start talking to patients about the oral-systemic connection

Adults who have lost teeth due to nontraumatic reasons may have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease according to a presentation at the American College of Cardiology Middle East Conference 2019 togeth

With those difficulties in mind, the team reconnected with dental pharmacology expert Tom Viola, RPh on the latest episode of the Dental Assistant Nation podcast series, powered by IgniteDA.net. Viola is passionate about dental professionals discussing the oral-systemic connection with their patients as well as making connections with medical professionals for referrals, etc.

In this episode, Viola talks about the importance of every dental team member (including the dentist, hygienist, and assistant) feeling comfortable talking to patients about their overall health and the effects that periodontal disease and other oral issues can cause. Kevin Henry also got to talk with Viola about how dental professionals can start the conversation, and they were able to touch on some of the changes happening with dental insurance in the coming year that are going to help bridge the gap between the dental and medical worlds.

Click below to hear the discussion and some frank talk about the important role every dental professional plays in patients’ oral and overall health.

er with the 10th Emirates Cardiac Society Congress. The conference is Oct. 3-5 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The causal association between oral disease and cardiovascular disease is not well known, so researchers in this study conducted a secondary analysis of the 2014 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System that looked at tooth loss not caused by trauma, as well as cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, angina and/or stroke.

“Our results support that there is a relationship between dental health and cardiovascular health,” said Hamad Mohammed Qabha, MBBS, lead author of the study and Chief Medical and Surgical Intern at Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University. “If a person’s teeth fall out, there may be other underlying health concerns.