Periodontal Disease and Diabetes: Perceptions, Communication, and Referral Between Rural Primary Care Physicians and Dentists

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE. Connections between oral health and systemic disease, specifically diabetes, are well described in the literature. Screening strategies for diabetes in dental settings and dental screenings in diabetes care settings exist. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the communication and referral patterns between dentists and physicians in a rural state with respect to recognition of dental disease and diabetes. METHODS. Surveys were sent to the members of the North Dakota Academy of Family Physicians, the North Dakota Medical Association, and the North Dakota Dental Association. RESULTS. Overall, 85 responses were collected, with 100% of responding physicians and dentists answering “yes” to a perceived link between oral and systemic health. Physician respondents tended to make a referral for dental evaluation in patients with prediabetes or diabetes more often than dentists referred patients with periodontal disease to physicians. CONCLUSION. Awareness of the link between dental disease and diabetes and of the need for referral is higher among physicians than among dentists. Opportunity exists to improve awareness and increase referrals.