Preshaw stresses links of diabetes to perio disease at BDA
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- Published: Monday, 04 January 2016 07:46
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Professor Philip Preshaw was the latest eminent scientist to address the annual BDA/BDJ Winter Lecture series. His lecture in December at the British Dental Association central London headquarters, provided an insight into the links between periodontal disease, diabetes and heart disease. The lecture was filmed and will be made available for free to all BDA members via a webcast in the New Year.
Speaking to over 100 dentists, he observed that even though diabetes is a major risk factor for periodontitis the links between oral and systemic health were often overlooked. We ignore these links at our peril, he suggested, given the worldwide obesity epidemic, the main risk for type 2 diabetes.
In his lecture, Diabetes and periodontal disease – an inflammatory combination, Professor Preshaw said if periodic periodontal checks and treatment were incorporated into the management of diabetes this could potentially reduce the risk for some of the cardiac, renal and other complications associated with poor blood sugar control in diabetes. Diabetes is now regarded as a pro-inflammatory condition, he said, and inflammation is likely to underpin the links between this and periodontal disease.
A renowned specialist in periodontics, Professor Preshaw spoke about the beneficial impact that treating periodontal disease can have on diabetes. "Periodontal treatment has been shown to improve glycaemic control, with measureable reductions in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)," he said. "It was remarkable that in research studies, periodontal treatment had led to as much as 0.4 per cent reduction in HbA1c, the equivalent to adding a second drug to the treatment of diabetes."
He explored the potential role that the dental team could play in the management of both conditions, including the possibility of testing for signs of diabetes. He said if a periodontal assessment in the dental practice yields blood this could potentially be used to test glucose levels on the spot. This could be helpful in detecting undiagnosed cases of diabetes, or highlight instances of poorly controlled diabetes. The patient could then be referred to their medical practitioner for further assessment. Such screening could take up to about 20 minutes, Professor Preshaw said, and he acknowledged that this would have resource and financial implications.
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