Interprofessional Collaboration with Dietitians

Dentistry’s evolving role reflects a bidirectional focus on the connection between oral health and conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This shift marks a transition from solely treating oral disease to actively promoting overall health and wellness.²⁷ As research continues to support the value of early detection, preventive care, and personalized treatment strategies, oral health care providers are increasingly integrated into the wider healthcare system.

Technology advances, including teledentistry and AI driven tools, can enhance the efficiency, accessibility, and data information nature of dental care.²⁷ However, several challenges hinder the integration of nutrition care into dental practices, these include:

• Limited training in nutrition for dental professionals.

• Time constraints during dental visits.

• Lack of reimbursement models.

• Absence of onsite registered dietitians.

To address these gaps, recommendations include:

• Embedding nutrition education into dental school curriculum and continuing education programs.

• Establishing an interprofessional care model that includes dietitians as part of dental teams.

• Utilizing routine oral health visits as opportunities for nutritional screening and counseling, particularly for high-risk populations.