In 2025, dentists helped patients avoid more than 260,000 potential drug interactions thanks to a more complete view of their medical records.
These dentists use Epic, an electronic health record system that allows dentists and doctors to share one chart for each patient. When a dentist places an order, the system alerts the dentist to any potential interactions with the patient’s existing prescriptions or allergies. These alerts are part of a broader shift toward integrated care, allowing dentists to participate more fully in patient care along with primary care and specialty teams.
“When dentists can see the full story of a patient’s health beyond what’s happening in the mouth, it allows us to make more informed clinical decisions because many systemic conditions have impact on the condition of the oral cavity,” said Dr. Daniel Croley, Chief Dental Officer at Delta Dental of California and Affiliates. “We can identify systemic health risks that may first appear in oral health and connect patients to appropriate medical follow-up sooner. That expanded ability to coordinate care makes a real difference for the people we serve.”
The ability to see and act on a patient’s medical history is especially important as more patients live with chronic conditions or take multiple medications. With integrated records, dentists can tailor treatments to minimize risk and support whole-person health.
Patient care improvements extend beyond medication safety. During their routine exams, dentists can identify high-risk conditions such as high blood pressure. With the fully integrated system, they can make timely referrals to the right specialists—or even to emergency care. This reduces barriers to screening and treatment for the estimated 9% of Americans—over 28 million people—who have seen a dentist in the past year, but not a medical doctor. Dentists can also more easily adjust dental care for patients managing cancer, diabetes, complex pregnancies, and other conditions that can significantly impact oral health.
“Dentists already play a key role in keeping patients healthy,” said Seth Howard, Executive Vice President of Research & Development at Epic. “With access to the comprehensive health record, they can act on that role with more information, helping ensure dental care supports and strengthens the rest of the patient’s care plan.”
Organizations like Delta Dental of California and PDS Health are part of a growing community of over 2,300 dental clinics using Epic to bring dental and medical care closer together. By working from a shared health record, they’re helping ensure that every visit—whether in a dental chair or a primary care clinic—supports the full picture of a patient’s health.
