The importance of dentistry in the differential diagnosis of a medical disorder

This is a case report of a patient presenting to our clinic with a chief complaint of occlusal changes, but no clear-cut diagnosis of local origin could be found. The patient later was diagnosed with acromegaly. This rare systemic disease, caused by a slow-developing tumor of the pituitary gland, induces changes in various vital organs. Among them is a change in occlusion that can bring the patient to the dentist first. Dental professionals may be the first health care providers to see the signs and symptoms of acromegaly, and thus have the first opportunity to correctly diagnose this serious disease. This case demonstrates the importance of taking a thorough medical history and making a careful diagnosis before any dental treatment is recommended or undertaken.