Hypertension Screening in the Dental Setting: A Pilot Program to Enhance Chronic Disease Management Through Medical-Dental Integration

ABSTRACT

As health care providers and public health professionals peel back the barriers preventing medical/dental collaboration, the benefits of these partnerships have become clear. Even so, the potential for dental and medical professionals working together to prevent and treat disease has yet to be fully realized. Put simply, there is more work to do and much more to learn. The Maryland Hypertension Screening in the Dental Setting pilot offers a glimpse into the benefits that can be achieved when dental professionals explore new models of care. Because of the impact of programs like the Maryland pilot and others that work to foster medical/dental collaboration, patients are beginning to see life-changing and sometimes even life-saving results.

Keywords::

• Collaboration
• hypertension
• high blood pressure
• dental care
• chronic disease
• medical/dental collaboration
• oral and overall health
• dentist
• primary care provider
• communication

Additional information

Notes on contributors

John Welby

John Welby, MS, is the director of health literacy and social marketing for the Maryland Office of Oral Health at the Maryland Department of Health. He obtained his master’s in communication from Clarion University and has developed and produced social and behavior change campaigns for some of the nation’s most respected health care organizations. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.

Debony Hughes

Debony Hughes, DDS, is the director of the Office of Oral Health at the Maryland Department of Health. She received her DDS degree and certificate in advanced general dentistry from the Howard University College of Dentistry and is a fellow in the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists. Dr. Hughes serves on several boards and has provided testimony for oral health legislation to the Maryland Legislature and the United States Senate. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.

Kristi Pier

Kristi Pier, MHS, MCHES, is the director of the Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control at the Maryland Department of Health. She holds a Master of Health Science degree from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist. Ms. Pier is a member of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors Board. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.