Here are just two of the things you should discuss with your doctor so he or she can help you integrate your oral and physical health care.
Tell your physician that you’d like him or her to share your lab test results with your dentist and that you also want copies for yourself.
Your lab tests are not just your physician’s business. They’re important markers of what’s happening in your body. You need to know just what your lab tests show and have that interpreted by your doctor if all the acronyms and numbers are confusing. Plus you need to know what those numbers mean to your health. Your lab tests show whether you are prediabetic or diabetic. If you are diabetic, they are a measure of the severity of the disease. The severity of your diabetes affects your treatment strategy. When your diabetes is out of control, you not only feel worse but you’re at greater risk for gum disease as well as heart disease and stroke. In turn, gum disease can make your overall diabetes management more difficult, putting you at continued risk for heart disease or stroke. It is truly a vicious circle, and that’s why it’s so important that you work with your physician and dentist as a team, and that you all have the same information to work from.
Ask your physician to have a “medical professional to medical professional” discussion or correspondence with your dentist about any special problems you’re having with your diabetes, what level of control you’ve achieved, how best to cooperate for your overall health and any other particular points about your condition that would help your dentist better treat your gum disease or other periodontal issues.
If you’re just starting to build a medical team, this is a crucial step. Shared information is key to creating the best treatment plan for your diabetes. When your doctor and your dentist communicate, you’ll have the benefit of the observations of two well-trained medical professionals who know you and know your health history and diabetes issues.
This blog is an excerpt from Don’t Sugar Coat It by Dr. Charles Martin of The Richmond Smile Center, located in Richmond, Virginia. For all of your dental needs, contact us by phone at (804) 417-7203 or online at richmondsmilecenter.com.
