Medical screening of dental patients: 16-year experience in a referral dental hospital

The lifespan of the average person has been significantly increased by the advances in medical technology such that the dental patient is likely to have medical conditions which may alter the outcome of dental treatment. This retrospective study aims at observing the prevalence of medical conditions according to age and sex in a referral dental institution over a 16-year period. The male:female ratio was 65:35; most patients were in the age group 40–60 years. Hypertension (12.5 %) and diabetes (7.5 %) were the commonest disorders observed in this study cohort. Others were heart disease, hematologic disorders, hepato-biliary diseases and neurologic diseases. Screening of dental patients for medical disorders is necessary to detect them and modify dental protocol accordingly. This article also provides dental treatment guidelines for patients with medical disorders. The reader should understand the determinants and indicators of systemic health which are essential for the development and promotion of programs designed to improve the screening of such patients. In future, increased emphasis can be laid on research and training in this growing field at dental schools and organized dentistry places like referral dental hospitals.