The American Heart Association’s Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts™ initiative, in collaboration with Delta Dental of California, has launched a new standard of care for heart health screening within the oral health care setting. Focused on blood pressure screening and referral to primary care, Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts provides professional education highlighting the connection between oral health and heart health, a standard blood pressure screening and referral guide, and educational materials for patients.
A 2024 survey conducted by The Harris Poll for the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, found that nearly 9 in 10 dental patients (88%) think of their dental care team as an important part of their overall health care team.2 More than 80 percent of patients are open to their dental care team taking their blood pressure at their dental appointments to help them manage their health.3
“For many, the dental chair is the only point of contact with the health care system, and that makes dental professionals an essential partner in chronic disease early detection,” said Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, chief medical officer for prevention at the American Heart Association. “That early detection can lead to timely referrals, better outcomes and lives saved.”
“The mouth is a gateway to the body, and oral health professionals have a powerful opportunity to integrate more into their patients’ collective health care team beyond protecting their patients’ teeth,” said Daniel Croley, D.M.D., chief dental officer at Delta Dental of California and Affiliates. “By connecting oral health and heart health, this initiative helps dentists identify risks early and guide patients toward care that can improve and even save lives.”
The new Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts resources will help dental care professionals:
- Learn more about the connection between oral health and cardiovascular health and engage with the latest science on blood pressure management through an e-module and educational activities.
- Adopt a standardized blood pressure screening process with referrals to primary care. Participating practices can also join the Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts recognition program for quality screening practices in oral health settings and be recognized as a Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts Participating Site.
- Provide patients with educational materials that explain the connection between oral health and cardiovascular health and help them take charge of their overall health.
High blood pressure affects nearly half (46.7%) of all adults in the U.S. and is a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke. A new joint guideline from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, released in August 2025, advises earlier treatment for hypertension that includes lifestyle modification and medications as appropriate, and reinforces the importance of healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as eating a heart healthy diet, being physically active, and maintaining or achieving a healthy weight.
