Dental Well-Being Says a Mouthful

Of course you tell your primary doctor what’s going on with you health-wise. You might want to talk to your dentist, too, if a survey of 515 dentists at the American Dental Assn.’s annual session in October is any indication.

Dentists reported that they see signs and symptoms of a variety of medical ailments in their patients’ mouths, noting the connection between oral and overall health. They said heart disease and diabetes were the two ailments they see signs of most often.

Other numbers from the survey:

* The majority of dentists surveyed ranked periodontal disease as the most pressing oral health issue as we approach 2000, and 57% of dentists identified gum disease as the one area patients are not adequately concerned about.

* Ninety percent of dentists surveyed said they counsel patients on home care for special oral health care needs resulting from chemotherapy or head and neck radiation therapy.

* Eighty-seven percent said they counsel patients on tobacco use; more than half (59%) provide direct counseling to patients. Thirty-eight percent provide literature on the dangers of tobacco and information on tobacco cessation programs to patients, 17% refer patients to their primary-care physician, and 14% directly refer patients to cessation services.