An evaluation of the clinical laboratory as an adjunct to dental practice

A study was completed at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry in which 172 randomly selected adult dental patients were subjected to a battery of laboratory screening tests as a part of the initial examination procedure. The tests performed included rapid plasma reagin test, complete blood cell count, and determinations of serum glucose, blood urea nitrogen, and serum cholesterol values. Nearly 17% of the patients had at least one abnormal laboratory value. Thirty-three percent of the values were so abnormal that the patients required medical care. For the total group, the rate of detection of previously undiagnosed medical problems was 6.9%. Elevated serum glucose values were found most frequently.