Should Dentists Offer General Health Screenings?

We’ve all seen the BOGO (buy-one-get-one) ads at our local shoe stores. But now, dental offices might be the next place you can get a two-for-one deal.

Recent research has shown that, when it comes to regular health visits, dentists are stealing the show. While the majority of people make annual visits to their dentists, the numbers are considerably lower for doctors’ offices.

Why is this? One possible explanation is that dental pain is more difficult to ignore, whereas people might be more prone to brush off a cold or other ailment and forgo a trip to the doctor. With all the medicines available at local drug stores, it can seem easier to look up your symptoms online and buy an appropriate medication or attempt a home remedy. When it comes to dental pain, it’s much more difficult to take care of it yourself — professional dentists pretty much own the market when it comes to administering root canals and drilling cavities.

Because of a greater patient influx at dental offices, some people are now advocating for offering basic health screening in dental offices so that people get the care they need. The screenings would ideally include basic procedures such as taking blood pressure and filling out simple questionnaires. If a dental professional sees something out of the ordinary, patients can be referred to the appropriate medical professional for further evaluation.

The truth is, oral health is closely linked to other areas of physical health. By looking at the condition of gums and teeth, dentists and their staff can recognize signs of larger issues from diabetes to eating disorders to HIV. While it might seem like more of a hassle for dentists and their staff to accomodate the additional testing, it could have benefits for their practice as well. The health screenings would communicate to patients that their dentist truly cares about all aspects of their health — thus boosting patient satisfaction and retention.

A side issue is to consider the effect that this type of move would have on dental school curriculums. If offering health screenings becomes common practice, dental and dental assisting students would need to be trained in a wider range of aspects. It is already common practice, however, for these students to be trained in administering blood pressure tests, so the change might not be too extensive or radical.

What do you think? Would you want your dentist to offer basic health screenings? Are you more prone to visit your dentist office regularly rather than the doctor?

Katie Hawkes is a freelance blogger for Tim Wilson Dentistry, a family-oriented dental office in northwest Tucson.

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