Community Water Fluoridation Coordinator Michigan Department of Health and Human Services- OHP
Disclosure(s):
Sandy Sutton, RDH, BS: No financial relationships to disclose
Description: Connecting oral health with overall health can be beneficial for patients and dental practices. In 2020, the Michigan Oral Health Program released guidance for dental staff on conducting blood pressure screening, what to do when blood pressure is elevated and steps to take if it's too high. It also includes how to make a referral to a primary care provider. An advisory group of professionals in the fields of both dentistry and medicine, using the American Heart Association's newest guidelines developed the state guidance. In 2022, a survey was conducted of dental personnel attending the MDA's Annual Session. Attendees were surveyed about a brief chairside guide that was created with a screening algorithm and an FAQ section for patients who ask why this is being done. The Guidance and Chairside Guide were presented at the "Getting to the Heart via Oral Health Summit" in June of 2022. The Chairside Guide breakout session helped to finalize the FAQ portion. The Hypertension Screening Guidance for Michigan Oral Health Professionals and the Chairside Guide were shared to all licensed dental professionals through the state licensing board (LARA) via email. A review of the survey questions and data from the responses will be discussed along with comments from the summit to show how the responses were chosen for the Chairside Guide.
