At Smiles by Shields, we’re committed to your total body health and wellness. And for as many as 29 million Americans, that means living with diabetes and its impact on your health and oral care. An estimated 8 million people may be living with undiagnosed diabetes in the United States, so researchers at New York University are excited about the potential of increasing awareness and screening for the condition during dental visits.

Using gingival crevicular blood (GCB) for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) testing produced values that were nearly identical to those obtained using finger stick blood, with a correlation of .991 between the two blood samples of 408 dental patients. That means we could say goodbye to finger pricks and simply use the blood that commonly appears during flossing without any invasive procedures.

Screening for diabetes during dental cleanings could result in better diabetes control for many Americans. In addition, screening HbA1c as a regular practice could help monitor the diabetes control of those already diagnosed. If you’re concerned about diabetes and your oral health, contact your dentist in Jacksonville, FL today!

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