Dental Teams Could Detect Diabetes Through New Screening Pathway

UK: A new initiative is exploring the potential for dental professionals to play a critical role in detecting the early signs of Type-2 diabetes, aiming to validate routine diabetes screening during regular oral health check-ups. This innovative research is seeking to address the large population of undiagnosed diabetics by integrating screening into everyday dental care.

Groundbreaking Diabetes Detection Research

Researchers at the University of Birmingham, in collaboration with the University of Leicester, have taken a significant step forward in the fight against undiagnosed diabetes. A new study, supported by Haleon, a global health company behind well-known oral health brands like Sensodyne and Corsodyl, aims to enhance dental practitioners’ ability to screen for Type-2 diabetes and pre-diabetes during routine check-ups.

The research draws on an established link between diabetes and severe gum disease (periodontitis), which often goes unnoticed during traditional diabetes testing. The University of Birmingham’s team, which includes Dr. Zehra Yonel, Professors Iain Chapple, and Thomas Dietrich, created a Diabetes Risk Assessment in Dentistry Score (DDS) to assist dental teams in identifying undiagnosed cases of diabetes through dental visits. In a pilot study known as INDICATE, which screened 805 patients across 13 dental practices, nearly 15% of those who thought they were healthy exceeded the UK’s thresholds for pre-diabetes and diabetes using a simple finger-prick HbA1c test.

Expanding the Study Across the UK

Following the success of the initial study, new funding from Haleon and support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre is allowing researchers to expand their work with a second trial, INDICATE-2. This trial will involve 50 dental practices across England and Scotland, screening over 10,000 patients. The aim is to validate a two-step model that could become part of routine dental care, helping dental professionals detect and refer high-risk patients to their doctors for further testing and treatment.

“This exciting collaboration with Haleon will allow us to determine the actual prevalence of pre-diabetes and Type-2 diabetes within a larger, more representative population sample and assess the feasibility of scaling this approach nationally,” said Dr. Zehra Yonel, Clinical Lecturer in Periodontology at the University of Birmingham’s Dental School. She added that this study will also explore the patient journey and pinpoint any challenges that may arise when dental teams refer patients to their general practitioners (GPs) and follow up on their care.

Addressing the National Health Challenge

Type-2 diabetes is a significant public health challenge in the UK, with over one million undiagnosed cases. Early detection is crucial to prevent severe complications, yet many cases remain undiagnosed. This initiative aims to tap into the frequent contact that dental teams have with patients to bridge that gap.

Professor Iain Chapple, co-lead researcher on INDICATE-2, emphasized the importance of this new funding. “This funding from Haleon is very exciting as it will enable us to validate the 2-step model on patients routinely attending dental practices across the UK, and test onward referral pathways of high-risk patients to their family doctors for diagnosis and treatment.”

Promising Future for Integrated Healthcare

Haleon’s involvement highlights the growing recognition of the link between oral and systemic health. Adam Sisson, Head of R&D for Oral Health at Haleon, expressed optimism about the potential impact of the research. “We are delighted to be collaborating with the University of Birmingham and NIHR to help support this important scientific research,” said Sisson. “We hope the findings will underpin a new care pathway aimed at proactively identifying and treating more people with diabetes by leveraging the expertise of oral health professionals.”

The INDICATE-2 trial is poised to contribute significantly to public health, offering a novel solution to identifying undiagnosed diabetes. If the approach proves successful, it could mark a major shift in how dental teams contribute to overall healthcare, reinforcing the importance of oral health in the management and prevention of systemic diseases like diabetes.

For more detailed information, the original article can be found on the Scottish Dental Magazine website.