New Program Could Help Diagnose Hypertension

Drilling and cleaning are what you might expect at the dentist but the next time you visit there's a good chance they'll check for high blood pressure as well.

Jed Jacobson, Chief Science Officer for Delta Dental, say "the dental office takes the opportunity to screen for, not diagnose, screen for (high blood pressure) and then if there is a positive screening make a referral to an appropriate care physician."

Dentist Holly Scott-Hetchler who participates in the program says too many of her patients don't regularly visit a doctor.

Scott-Hetchler says "I think a lot of people consider their dental health important but kinda take for granted overall medical health; if I feel fine then why should I go to the doctor."

But she says there are plenty of connections between oral health and overall health.

Scott-Hetchler says "more and more they're linking a lot of systemic conditions to dental health bacteria in your mouth can get into your blood stream, heart problems, premature birth."

Jed Jacobson chief science officer for Delta Dental says a study they conducted shows that this program is more important than ever.

Jacobson says, "surprisingly, anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 of individuals who have these chronic diseases and attend dental offices don't know they have the disease."

While the program is entirely volunteer at this point Jacobson believes that it will soon be widely practiced by many in the medical and dental fields.

Jacobson, "the rewards by everyone in the marketplace are such that its a no-brainer, one would want to do it."

The program gets into full-swing later this month and organizers say they expect the pilot to last at least a year before they evaluate it to see if any changes should be made.