A simple diabetes test conducted during a routine dental appointment could significantly boost the diagnosis rate for the condition, new academic research suggests.
Experts estimate that approximately 1.3 million people across the UK are living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.
An estimated six million individuals are thought to have prediabetes – a state where blood sugar levels are elevated, increasing their risk of developing type 2 diabetes – with many remaining unaware of their condition.
Now, academics have identified that offering a "chairside" test to dental patients exhibiting key risk factors, such as age, gum disease, or a high body mass index (BMI), could help identify a substantial number of these previously undiagnosed individuals.
The HbA1c test, a straightforward finger-prick blood analysis, provides results in just six minutes.
Researchers examined data on 911 people taking part in the Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Biobank study who were seen at Guy’s Dental Hospital in London.
Of these, 83 per cent had gum disease.
Excluding the patients who already had diabetes, some 35 per cent were found to show that they have diabetes or prediabetes but were unaware.
Writing in the British Journal of Surgery, researchers said their findings confirm that “the dental visit could be an important opportunity for early detection of undiagnosed hyperglycaemia”.
They added that “chairside” screening should be used in dental settings to help find undiagnosed patients.
While the study took place in a hospital setting, researchers said that the test could easily be used in community dental settings to help spot patients with, or at risk of, type 2 diabetes.
Senior author on the paper Professor Luigi Nibali, honorary consultant at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and professor of periodontology at King’s College London, told the Press Association: “We’ve known for a long time that gum disease, periodontitis, is associated with systemic conditions, comorbidities and particularly with diabetes.
“And the other thing we know is that often diabetes goes undiagnosed for quite a long time, and patients are not always prompted have an assessment for diabetes.”
He said that the research team found that a “strikingly high percentage” had diabetes or prediabetes.
If the test revealed high blood sugar levels, dental health workers could prompt their patients to have a full assessment, he added.
“The dental practice could be an important point of contact where the first diagnosis of diabetes is made,” he added.
“Prediabetes is also important, because it’s a transition phase that then usually leads to diabetes, so identifying people with prediabetes is very important because you can still intervene at that stage before the disease becomes diabetes.”
Co-author Dr Giuseppe Mainas, specialist periodontist and research associate at King’s College London, said: “The findings suggest that dental visits may offer a valuable opportunity to identify those at risk of diabetes, particularly in older patients, those with higher BMI, and people with gum disease.”
First author Professor Mark Ide, professor of periodontology at King’s College London, added: “When the test reveals high levels of HbA1c, patients can then see their GP to investigate further.
“This is something they might not have done without having the dental screening.
“Most of the patients in our study were surprised that they had elevated HbA1c levels and had no idea they might have pre-diabetes or diabetes.
“The other benefit of the HbA1c test is not having to fast, which could increase risk of fainting in the dental chair.”
Commenting, British Dental Association chairman, Eddie Crouch, said: “Chairside tests for chronic diseases are a golden opportunity for patients, that will remain unrealised until we see real commitment to rebuild this service.
“The Government has worthy ambitions, on shifting from sickness to prevention, from hospital to community.
“But it needs to value and invest in dentistry to realise them.”
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