New Study: Dental Visits May Help Detect Undiagnosed Hypertension in Young Adults

Image source: NYU Langone Health official website

DentalGoodNews｜On November 7, 2026, NYU Langone Health presented a study at the American Heart Association (AHA) 2026 Scientific Sessions: the team analyzed records of more than 45,000 patients aged 18 to 39 who visited clinics at NYU College of Dentistry between 2023 and 2025, and found that some young patients did not have a regular primary care provider, and many of them had undiagnosed hypertension.

The study was completed by the team of Dr. Sean P. Heffron, a preventive cardiologist at the Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease at NYU Langone Health. Heffron said that for young adults who may have less access to primary care services, a dental visit can provide an opportunity to identify hypertension. Routine blood pressure measurement can help detect potential risks earlier and buy time for subsequent prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Image source: Periodontal Disease and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Awareness of hypertension among young people is relatively low. A data brief released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2024 showed that from August 2021 to August 2023, among patients with hypertension aged 18 to 39, only 27.2% were aware of their condition; the figure for patients aged 60 and older was 73.7%. Other studies also suggest that hypertension diagnosis in young patients may be insufficient. A study presented at the AHA 2012 Scientific Sessions analyzed the medical records of 13,593 adults and found that patients with hypertension aged 18 to 24 were 28% less likely to receive a hypertension diagnosis at a visit than patients aged 60 and older.

The dental care setting has certain screening value. According to AHA materials, about 29 million people in the United States have a dental visit record each year but no medical visit record. To promote collaboration between dentistry and primary care, the AHA launched the Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts program, which provides dental teams with blood pressure measurement training, screening and referral implementation guidance, and patient education materials to help dental clinics identify patients with abnormal blood pressure and guide them to receive further medical evaluation.

According to the AHA's implementation guidance for blood pressure screening in dental settings, when systolic blood pressure is 130-139 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure is 80-89 mmHg, patients should be provided with health education and advised to contact a medical provider for follow-up; when systolic blood pressure reaches 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure reaches 90 mmHg or above, whether to postpone treatment, consult medical personnel, or refer should be determined based on the specific blood pressure level and the type of dental treatment. For patients with systolic blood pressure exceeding 180 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure exceeding 120 mmHg, blood pressure should be re-measured; if symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, vision changes, or difficulty speaking occur at the same time, it should be managed as a hypertensive emergency and emergency medical assistance should be sought.