Healthy Smiles, Healthier Lives: Dr. Raghavendra Challa On Integrating Dental & Medical Care In India
Dental diseases are the most common non-communicable conditions all over the world. WHO asserts that about 3.5 billion people suffer from oral diseases ranging from untreated cavities to periodontal disease and lost teeth. Dental diseases are often treated in isolation from the remainder of general healthcare, although they are prevalent, particularly in India.
India has a growing challenge of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes, and both are intimately related to oral disease. Gum disease, for instance, has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease by 19%, and dental infections can make diabetes less manageable. However, dentistry in India is largely distinct from the rest of medicine, and patients are rarely provided with holistic care.
In advanced countries, many have begun combining oral check-ups with routine medical check-ups. For example, physicians in the United States can perform oral screenings during annual check-ups, examining for apparent oral disease or oral cancer signs. Though these are basic checks, they raise awareness and lead to referrals to dental experts if needed, helping earlier diagnosis of issues and improving overall health results.
Chief Dental Officer at Holyoke Health Center, USA, Dr. Raghavendra Challa has always been an advocate for the integration of medical and dental care. He oversees dental services for the underserved, writes regularly for academic journals, and lectures at world conferences covering public oral health and dental education.
"As a dentist, I have seen hundreds of cases where untreated dental issues led to serious complications," says Dr. Challa. "Though doctors are not trained to manage dental diseases, we ensure timely referrals are made, especially for those without routine dental visits." Primary care doctors and dentists work together, says Dr. Challa, at his practice.
He emphasizes the value of common systems through which healthcare professionals can access both dental and medical records. “We instituted a patient management platform from which the dentist and the physician can obtain the same health information. This enables improved communication, coordination, and comprehensive planning of care.”
The shortage of dentists, especially in rural India, where there is less than one dentist for every 10,000 people, makes such collaboration even more important. Dr. Challa notes that primary care doctors play a key role as oral health advocates. During patient visits, primary care doctors can educate people on the importance of oral hygiene, conduct basic visual inspections of the teeth, and make referrals for patients who haven't had their teeth evaluated by a dentist. These simple steps can lead to the prevention and early diagnosis of significant dental issues.
He makes the specific point that the development of an integrated healthcare system for India will depend upon close collaboration between the dental and medical communities. “Medical education also has to be modified,” declares Dr. Challa. “Doctors of the future must be educated about the oral-systemic disease relationship. They must also be trained to counsel people about oral hygiene and encourage people to have regular dental check-ups.”
In the view of Dr. Challa, redesigning the healthcare centers with the co-location of dentists and doctors in the same facility would promote shared decision-making and holistic treatment of the patient. This approach, according to him, would not just enhance the quality of treatment, but also reduce the long-term expenditure of healthcare by preventing the complications arising out of untreated oral disease.
“Oral health is not a luxury—it’s a part of complete well-being,” Dr. Challa asserts. “Millions of people throughout India suffer in silence from the lack of awareness and lack of access. Combining medicine and dentistry, educating doctors, and redefining how we deliver care, we have the power to alter lives. Every patient deserves to be heard, healed, and seen—because every smile counts.”
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