Should a dentist offer medical advice?

Although a dentist is licensed primarily to treat diseases and disorders of the oral cavity, He or she is in position to observe his patients in other aspects as well. Dentists are not licensed to treat medical conditions unrelated to the mouth but they do have a responsibility to observe their patients holistically. A dentist routinely sees his patients every year, and consequently spends a good deal of time with them.

In the course of these visits the dentist will invariably have conversations with patients and often medical problems unrelated to dentistry are brought up. Although dentists are not necessarily well versed in every phase of medicine, as concerned health care providers they can encourage patients to seek appropriate medical treatment for a condition.

This is especially true when treating the elderly, since they often have an increased need for dental treatments and often have a long standing relationship with their dentist. Often a dentist can play a role by encouraging them to seek appropriate treatment for medical problems that they are experiencing.