Chronic disease screening in dental care settings identified undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes among adult dental patients.

Background

Many people with diabetes or prediabetes remain undiagnosed due to mild or absent symptoms, delaying treatment and increasing the risk of complications. Because diabetes and periodontal disease are closely linked, dental visits present an opportunity to identify at-risk individuals. This review evaluated point-of-care screening in dental care settings, focusing on the prevalence of undiagnosed prediabetes and type 2 diabetes among adult patients.

Findings

This systematic review and meta-analysis included nine cross-sectional studies of dental patients screened using point-of-care tests in dental care setting. Across studies, 32-40% of patients screened positive for high blood sugar depending on the test used. An estimated 11% of patients had undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, and 47% had prediabetes.

Program/Policy Takeaways

Dental care settings can serve as effective screening points for identifying undiagnosed prediabetes and diabetes. Health care providers and payers can consider integrating point-of-care screening in dental care to enable earlier diagnosis, improve referrals, and reduce complications through earlier treatment.