Dentists' Screening Can Save Your Life

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - October 22, 2008) - New Facts: A year's worth of studies show that over one fifth of the periodontal patients who received FDA approved blood tests in their dental offices were then diagnosed by their physicians with cancers, diabetes, pre-diabetes, high risk for heart attack or stroke, or another serious medical condition.

The bottom line -- Dentists can save your life.

People typically visit their dentists more often than they see their doctors. Dentists can therefore play a crucial role in the early detection of serious diseases.

Dr. Ronald Schefdore is a Chicago dentist with over 25 years of experience. His latest findings are featured in the June 2007 issue of Dentistry Today.

Dr. Schefdore is leading a movement to raise awareness that bleeding gums are the most common warning light for diagnosis of over 20 different medical conditions including diabetes, heart disease, colon cancer, Hodgkins lymphoma, and a host of other problems.

Dr. Schefdore is one of thousands of dentists who believe that millions of lives can be saved by in-office testing using convenient and affordable FDA approved blood testing kits which test for C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation.

Schefdore uses a simple process on patients he sees in his office. "It's quick and easy and helps speed the diagnosis and proper steps towards treatment," he said. Easy to use blood test kits come with a patient release form and instructions on how to do the test. The test takes just three drops of blood. The samples are mailed to a laboratory, and results are sent back to the dentist within ten days.

"If patients, physicians, and dentists would work together it would be better health for Americans almost overnight," he said.

Schefdore is spreading the word about his procedure and training other dental offices on test implementation.

Schefdore, who was featured in US News and World Report in February 2008, said he wants to make the blood screening standard dental care within the next five years.

"This could save a lot of lives," he said.

To view a media-rich version of this release, go to: http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2008/schefdore_101508/index.html

Contact Information: Contacts: Paul J. Krupin, Publicist 800-457-8746 509-545-2707 Ronald Schefdore, DMD 630-971-0682