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6/22/2017 |
Insights |
Dentists Can Help Fight Against Tickborne Diseases |
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Dentists Can Help Fight Against Tickborne Diseases by David Burger Tickborne diseases are on the rise and prevention should be on everyone's minds during the summer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That includes dentists, too. "From May through July, people will get more tick bites and tickborne diseases than any other time of year in the United States," according to the CDC website. "Each year, more than 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported nationwide, while studies suggest the actual number of people diagnosed with Lyme disease is more likely about 300,000." Dr. Stacey Van Scoyoc, an Illinois dentist and member of the ADA Council on Dental Practice, said that this summer's reported uptick in ticks has increased her prevention measures when it comes to her family. "Lately, we've been checking our boys for ticks after they play outside in the wooded area near our home due to the recent publicity about the expected increase in tickborne diseases," she said. "The people I know who have been diagnosed with Lyme disease suffered with debilitating illnesses for years before they were finally properly diagnosed." Dentists can help detect possible cases of Lyme disease, according to Dr. Van Scoyoc. "Sometimes the dental patient may present nonspecific orofacial pain and headaches that can mimic temporomandibular joint pain," she said. "Dentists should consider Lyme disease as a possible cause if a patient presents these or related symptoms and has no specific oral health problem. These patients should be referred to a physician." Dr. Barry S. Rubel, a professor at the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry, wrote an article for a 2007 issue of General Dentistry called "A Case of Rocky Mountain Fever." In the article, he spoke about a patient who came in for routine prophylaxis and described recent swelling of her arms and legs along with soreness in her neck and an accompanying rash. She had been seen by a physician and been treated for symptom relief but Dr. Rubel was concerned that she might have had Lyme disease or a related condition because she cited frequent recent trips to rural areas. He referred her for appropriate testing and she was subsequently diagnosed with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever – another illness caused by a tick bite. Read full article on ADA.org.
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