DENTISTS WILL OFFER HbA1c TESTING TO HELP IDENTIFY PATIENTS AT-RISK FOR DIABETES
- Rebecca Guldberg
- Apr 16
- 1 min read
Delta Dental of Arizona and PDS Health have teamed up on a new year-long study aimed at improving early diabetes detection—right from the dentist’s chair. The idea? Use dental visits as an opportunity to screen for diabetes, a chronic condition that often goes undetected for too long.
Here’s how it works: around 1,500 adult patients at seven PDS Health dental offices in Arizona will receive free HbA1c tests, which measure blood sugar levels. If someone’s results show signs of prediabetes or diabetes, they'll be told about this so they can take proactive action and then they’ll be given a second test later to track any changes.
“Periodontal disease and diabetes are bi-directionally linked. Elevated HbA1c worsens periodontal disease, and untreated periodontal disease can make diabetes harder to control,” said Dr. Heather Schneider, Delta Dental of Arizona Dental Director. “HbA1c is also a clinically relevant factor in periodontal disease diagnosis and grading, meaning that a patient’s A1c level can directly impact their periodontal treatment plan. Through this study, we’re bringing routine HbA1c testing into dental practices to identify patients who may not know they are at risk. By detecting these warning signs earlier, dentists can help bridge the gap between oral health and overall health.”