Dentists can check for oral signs of disease

NEW YORK, March 21 (UPI) -- Routine screening for oral signs of disease can save lives, but only 7 percent of dentists offer mouth and neck exams, according to a U.S. dentist.

Dr. Gwen Cohen-Brown, an assistant professor of dental hygiene at New York City College of Technology, says hygienists, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and hospital HIV/AIDS counselors should routinely conduct periodontal evaluations and oral cancer screenings as well as recognize the clinical signs of such systemic diseases as HIV/AIDS.

"Dental health providers can be the first line of care when it comes to oral health," Cohen-Brown said in a statement.

"The mouth is the portal to the body and a reflection of general health," she said.