title: Screening for diabetes mellitus in dental practices: a field trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this field trial, the authors assess the feasibility of screening for diabetes and prediabetes in dental practices and in a community health center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dental patients 45 years and older who were not aware of their diabetic status underwent evaluation for diabetes risk with an American Diabetes Association Diabetes Risk Test and with hemoglobin (Hb) A1c measurement. Participants with an HbA1c level of 5.7 percent or greater were referred to their physicians for diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1,022 patients screened, 416 (40.7 percent) had an HbA1c blood level of 5.7 percent or greater and were referred for diagnosis. The HbA1c and the American Diabetes Association Diabetes Risk Test were correlated (P < .001). Of the 416 participants who were referred, 35.1 percent received a diagnosis from their physicians within one year; 78.8 percent of these patients were seen in the community health center and 21.4 percent were seen in private dental offices. The diagnoses were diabetes (12.3 percent of patients), high risk of developing diabetes (that is, prediabetes) (23.3 percent) and no diabetes (64.4 percent).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study results show that screening for prediabetes and diabetes is feasible in a dental office, with acceptance by the dentist and dental office staff members, patients' physicians and patients. Patients from the community health center demonstrated good compliance with referrals to physicians; however, compliance was poor among those in the private dental offices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Screening for diabetes and prediabetes in the dental office may provide an important benefit to patients and encourage interprofessional collaboration to achieve a chronic care model in which health care professionals work together to care for a panel of patients.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Genco is a SUNY distinguished professor and vice provost, State University of New York at Buffalo, Baird Research Park, Suite 103, 1576 Sweet Home Road, Amherst, N.Y. 14228, rjgenco@buffalo.edu.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Genco
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Schifferle
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Dunford
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Falkner
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balukjian
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003813:Dentistry / Q000379:methods*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human
keywords: Diabetes screening; dental office; field trial; hemoglobin A1c