News

Dental patients to receive diabetes screening at Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic

March 31, 2023

The Paso del Norte Health Foundation in partnership with the Hunt School of Medicine recently announced a new program that will screen dental patients for diabetes at the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic. Diabetes is a serious condition that can lead to heart disease, chronic kidney disease, nerve damage, and problems with feet, oral health, vision, hearing, and mental health. There is a well-documented connection between diabetes and oral health. A dentist is often the first healthcare provider to suspect if a patient has diabetes because dental visits can be more frequent than physician visits. They can also provide an opportunity for diabetes screenings and medical referrals for diabetes care.

Through funding from the Health Foundation, patients who visit the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic for a routine dental exam have the opportunity to get their A1C test. Once a patient has been determined to be at risk for diabetes, promotores (community health workers) act as patient navigators to diabetes resources and connect patients to the appropriate healthcare professionals they have been referred to, including primary care physicians and endocrinologists. The Paso del Norte Health Foundation initiative with the Hunt School of Dental Medicine to test for diabetes during dental visits is one of the few currently in the U.S. The Health Foundation works to promote the knowledge, support, and opportunity for people to make improvements in their lives and health.

To make an appointment at the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic, call 915-215-6700.