An Interprofessional Approach to Diabetes Screening in a Dental Clinic

The University of Maryland, Baltimore is a collective group of health care providers serving a diverse patient population.  Many of the patients receiving dental care at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry present with risk factors affecting oral health similar to a range of chronic diseases including diabetes.  The curriculum at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry has been sensitive to the issue of diabetes awareness with the goal of early detection and prevention.  In collaboration with the School of Nursing a pilot clinic for diabetes screening was proposed incorporating a didactic and clinical inter-professional experience focusing on a collaborative approach to health care.

The new educational program for the students at UMB on diabetes and its relationship to dentistry includes a discussion of the bidirectional relationship between diabetes and dentistry, as well as a hands-on training exercise in assessing blood glucose levels.  Understanding the comorbidity of oral health with other chronic diseases has led to a better appreciation for strategies aimed to prevent the onset of diabetes.  Current strategies have been focused on diet and lifestyle changes.  The next phase of the intervention is for these dental visits to provide patients with an opportunistic setting for diabetes screening.    

The impact and reciprocal nature of chronic health conditions such as diabetes on oral health requires the coordination of care between dentistry and other health professions.  Through inter-professional education and collaborative intervention, dentistry can become a critical component of the primary care system.