Dental clinic: Potential source of high-risk screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes

It is predicted that by 2030 diabetes may affect 79.4 million individuals in India. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of diabetes are essential to prevent or delay its acute or chronic complications. It is observed that the number of patients visiting dentists is significantly increased. This opportunity can be used for early identification of diabetes in dental office. This study assesses the feasibility of high-risk screening for diabetes and prediabetes in private dental care center.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients reporting to the dental clinic. A total of 1150 patients above 40 years of age having one or more risk factors such as family history of diabetes, hypertension, smoking, loss of teeth, and periodontitis were included in the study. Patients were subjected to high-risk screening by random blood sugar (RBS) test. American Diabetes Association criteria indicating normal (RBS 79-140 mg/dL), prediabetic (RBS 140-200 mg/dL), and diabetic (RBS >200 mg/dL) was considered for screening.

Among 1150 participants, 64.69% had RBS level within normal range and 20.69% had prediabetic range while 14.60% had RBS level above 200 mg/dL, suggestive of having diabetes. A total of 35.29% patients had hyperglycemia based on random blood glucose level.

The study concluded that patients who are unaware about their diabetic status visiting a dental clinic having one or more risk factors of diabetes can be used as potential sources for high-risk screening for diabetes using a simple RBS test and oral examination.