Diabetes & Dentistry - Nov 10, 2026

This episode we’re discussing Type 1 diabetes through an oral health lens, exploring risk factors that can create gaps in care and practical strategies dentists can use to better support patients.

Featured Guests: Dr. Samira Shafaee

For more information, show notes and transcripts visit https://www.ada.org/podcast

Show Notes

• In this episode we’re discussing type 1 diabetes through an oral health lens, exploring risk factors that can create gaps in care, and some practical strategies dentists can use to better support patients.
• Our guest is Dr. Samira Shafaee, a private practice dentist in Irvine, CA. She is a graduate of the UCLA School of Dentistry, a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, and a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. Dr. Shafaee has been an active board member of the Orange County Dental Society, serving on various committees and contributing to advocacy efforts. She is also the co-founder of the T1D Oral Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the oral health challenges faced by individuals living with Type 1 diabetes, an often-overlooked aspect of chronic disease management.
• According to the CDC, approximately 2.1 million Americans have type 1 diabetes yet, Dr. Shafaee says, there seems to be a knowledge gap of the unique oral health challenges and risk factors this poses for our patients, specifically adult patients.
• Not all diabetes is the same. Dr. Shafaee explains the critical differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes and why understanding those distinctions matters when providing patient-centered dental care. She also shares that despite oral health being closely connected to diabetes management, dentistry can often be absent from the multidisciplinary care teams that support people with type 1 diabetes, leaving patients and families without guidance on protecting their oral health.
• Well-intentioned recommendations can miss the mark when providers don’t fully understand what patients are navigating, says Dr. Shafaee, and she shares why advice around sugar consumption, oral hygiene, and diabetes management should be grounded in the realities of daily life managing type 1 diabetes.
• Dr. Shafaee suggests that some ways dental teams can better support patients is by digging deeper into medical histories, distinguishing between different types of diabetes, and recognizing related autoimmune conditions that may impact oral and overall health.
• The conversation explores how misinformation and oversimplified health advice can spread through social media, often creating confusion about diabetes treatment and management for patients and families.
• Through her T1D Oral Health Foundation, Dr. Shafaee is working to close knowledge gaps by educating dental professionals, developing patient resources, and advocating for stronger oral health integration within diabetes care.
• Dr. Shafaee shares a reminder that compassion matters. Every patient is managing challenges outside the dental office, and approaching care with empathy and understanding can strengthen trust and improve outcomes.

Resources

• Read the CDC’s National Diabetes Statistics Report for up-to-date information.
• For additional information on diabetes and living with the condition, visit the American Diabetes Association.
• Learn more about the T1D Oral Health Foundation.
• Read more about the growing effort to improve education and awareness around type 1 diabetes in dentistry in this ADA News article.
• Share this patient-friendly resource on how diabetes can affect oral health and what steps can help protect a healthy smile.
• Check out this continuing education course packed with evidence-based strategies to manage Type 1 diabetes in dental care, including risk assessment, glycemic considerations, and safe treatment planning to support comprehensive care for affected patients.