A recent study set in a dental office in Manhattan, New York, involved five hundred-thirty patients over the age of thirty. They came from varying backgrounds, but all shared one thing in common.

None of them had ever been diagnosed as diabetic or pre-diabetic.

For those who had one or more risk factors for the condition, two tests were performed.

The first was a traditional finger stick to measure blood-sugar levels. The second was a periodontal examination.

Later, these same patients returned for a fasting plasma glucose test. It was found that the number of teeth missing and the number of deep periodontal pockets were accurate predictors of diabetes and pre-diabetes.

Throughout American, and beyond, there are large populations of people living with pre-diabetes or diabetes, while completely unaware of it.

The disease can exist for some time without giving adequate warning signs that would cause the person to consult medical attention. In many cases, by the time that it gets bad enough for the person to take notice, much ground has already been lost.

Nearly seventy percent of Americans visit the dentist at least once per year. It is thought that using these dental indicators to acknowledge high risk individuals could be the much sought after link to early diagnosis.

If caught in the pre-diabetic stage, an individual can make relatively small changes to lifestyle and prevent the progression to actual diabetes. The dental exam could give them the head start that they need to do so.

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