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.