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Jann Ingmire, [email protected]
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Can a Trip to the Dentist Be a Life-Saver?
CHICAGO -- New research indicates dental x-rays may help detect patients
who are at risk of stroke, according to a study published in the July
issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA).
The researchers say the significance of this study is that they looked
at both men and women, many of whom had no symptoms from plaque
deposits in the arteries, considered to be a contributing source leading
to stroke. The researchers wanted to investigate the use of panoramic
radiographs (x-rays) to detect calcifications in the blood vessels and
to correlate this radiographic evidence with risk factors for the
development of stroke.
"Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States,"
states the lead researcher, Laurie C. Carter, D.D.S. "This disease has
an enormous impact on public health. If we can find yet another way to
detect patients who are at risk of experiencing stroke through dental
panoramic radiographs, then these patients can be referred to their own
physician to develop strategies on how to prevent the disease from
progressing. We may help save lives, " Dr. Carter says.
Dr. Carter and the other researchers examined the panoramic radiographs
of 1,175 newly accepted dental school patients at the clinics of the
State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine.
Panoramic radiographs show all the upper and lower teeth, large portions
of the jaws and other structures on one relatively large film. In this
study, the researchers were particularly interested in looking for any
calcifications in the area of the carotid blood vessels.
The researchers found 3.6 percent of the patients had some carotid
calcifications. "This incidence was higher than we expected. We also
found a statistically significant correlation with obesity. The
patients who were obese were most likely to have the carotid
calcifications," Dr. Carter says.
Previous studies have looked only at men or at people with known disease
or who were considered high-risk.
The authors conclude that dental panoramic radiography may be a useful
diagnostic tool to identify some asymptomatic patients who were not
previously recognized to be at risk of experiencing stroke. The
identification of carotid calcifications on panoramic radiographs in the
dental office should prompt an automatic referral to the patient's
physician for a more complete physical as part of an overall
stroke-prevention strategy.
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