Oral Health and Diabetes: An Important Connection

In the last year, 60% of people with diabetes had a medical visit, but did not have a dental visit (Wei L, et al. 2022). This is a significant portion of adults with diabetes do not regularly access dental care resulting in high rates of gum disease and tooth loss. Training gaps exist for both medical and dental healthcare providers regarding patient education, screening practices, interprofessional communication, and insurance coverage; factors that limit timely diagnosis, preventive care, and treatment. By increasing awareness for professionals, people with diabetes can see improved medical and oral health outcomes.