American Academy of General Practitioners
People with diabetes are at higher risk of developing oral health problems such as gum disease. However, treatment for these related health problems is typically unrelated and is split between primary care and dental care. A research team from the University of Amsterdam developed an intervention that provided primary care oral health information and referrals for patients with diabetes. In a cluster randomized controlled study, 764 patients from 24 primary care practices received either oral health support or standard primary care. Participants were asked to rate their oral health quality of life, general health and any oral health discomfort at the start and end of the study. The analysis found that individuals who received the primary care-based oral health support intervention had a significant increase in their self-reported oral health quality of life compared to the control group. The authors conclude that “Patients with type 2 diabetes attending a primary diabetes care facility may benefit from additional attention paid to oral health.” They add, “It also reflects the concept of the connection between oral health and general health.”
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