Recently, Dr. Richard Nagelberg, a Philadelphia-area dentist, joined forces with Washington Crossing Family Practice physician Charles Whitney, MD to provide cardiovascular disease screening tests in their respective offices. To do this, they used the Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) Ultrasound device, which has the ability to detect vascular disease at an earlier stage than any other test available.
The CMIT is a non-invasive test that is performed with a high-resolution B-mode ultrasound transducer. The test is safe, painless, and takes only about twenty minutes to complete. After applying conducting jelly to the skin over the neck, a small hand-held transducer is applied to image the carotid arteries. The sonographer and laboratory measure and report on the combined thicknesses of the intimal and medical layers of the carotid artery walls.
The following are benefits of the CMIT:
- A painless diagnostic test without any risk of side effect
- An FDA-approved surrogate endpoint for cardiovascular disease
- Detects overall atherosclerotic burden better than any other accessible test available
- Detects early atherosclerotic burden, as well as soft plaque(s) vulnerable to rupture
- Allows risk stratification in asymptomatic patients
- Allows early detection and intervention
- Is predictive for men and women
- Is more predictive than assessment of other individual risk factors alone
- Allows physicians to make better therapeutic decisions
- Gives physicians a tool to monitor effectiveness of therapy
- Is endorsed by the American Heart Association as a valid and reliable diagnostic testing tool
- Is a low-cost, effective screening tool that is beneficial to patients and the physician’s practice
For more information about the CMIT, contact Vasolabs, Inc., located in Woods Cross, Utah.
Dr. Charles Martin of The Richmond Smile Center is an advocate of oral and overall health. He recognizes that the health of your teeth, gums, and oral cavity greatly impacts the well being of your entire body. For this reason, Dr. Martin encourages all of his patients to take care of their bodies by exercising, eating healthy, and visiting their general practitioner regularly.
For all of your dental needs, call Dr. Martin at The Richmond Smile Center at (804) 320-6800.
