Oral findings often appear in general practice before a patient discloses, and before anyone thinks to involve a dentist. This session looks at three of those presentations and what to do with them.

Dental erosion is a recognised sign of self induced vomiting and can be visible before a patient is ready to talk about eating. Dry mouth is a common side effect of psychotropic, anticholinergic and antihypertensive medicines, and reduced saliva raises decay risk in patients who often attribute the change to brushing rather than their prescription. Periodontal disease and glycaemic control are bidirectionally associated in type 2 diabetes, which makes oral health relevant to a chronic disease review rather than separate from it.

For each, the session covers what to look for, what it suggests, and the referral options available, including telehealth psychology and dietetics for adult patients who cannot easily attend in person.

For context, one in four people who needed to see a dental professional delayed or did not go at least once in the previous twelve months, and 16 per cent gave cost as a reason. There were close to 89,200 potentially preventable hospitalisations for dental conditions in 2024 to 2025. Source, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Presented by Dr Sandhya Jaswal, Registered Dentist and Clinical Director, Continuum Teletherapy and Allied Health. Thirty minutes, in clinic, with time for questions.