Several major medical conditions can be monitored by oral health care personnel. Signs and symptoms of systemic conditions, the types of medications taken, and the patient’s compliance with medications can reveal how well a patient’s underlying medical condition is being controlled. Signs of medical conditions are elicited by physical examination, which includes measurements of blood pressure and pulse, or laboratory or
other diagnostic evaluations. Symptoms are elicited through a review of systems, whereby subjective symptoms that may indicate changes in a patient’s medical status are ascertained. A list of the patient’s present medications, changes of medications, and daily doses and a record of the patient’s compliance with medications usually provide a good indicator of how a medical condition is being managed. The combined information on signs, symptoms, and medications is ultimately used to determine the level of control and status of the patient’s medical condition.