Dentistry is undergoing a profound transformation. For decades, it was regarded as a predominantly mechanical discipline – removing caries, placing fillings, inserting implants. Yet the recognition that oral and systemic health are inextricably linked is fundamentally changing clinical practice. Biomarkers such as Vitamin D, C-reactive protein (CRP), HbA1c, TSH and ferritin provide information that goes far beyond findings in the mouth – and can directly influence treatment outcomes.

With the Polaris DX, dental practices have access to a compact point-of-care analyser that determines these parameters directly at the treatment chair – from just a few microlitres of capillary blood, in three to fifteen minutes. No laboratory order, no time lost, no appointment rescheduling. Chairside diagnostics thus becomes an integral part of the dental workflow. This article explains why blood testing in the dental practice is no longer a future vision, what evidence supports it, and how practices can implement this step in concrete terms.

The procedure for a chairside measurement can be described in a few steps:

1. Collect capillary blood– a finger prick suffices; depending on the parameter, 10 to 20 microlitres of blood are required.
2. Apply sample– the capillary blood is applied to the pre-filled test cassette for the desired biomarker.
3. Insert cassette– the test cassette is placed into the Igloo Pro Reader; measurement starts automatically.
4. Wait for measurement– depending on the biomarker, analysis time is three to fifteen minutes.
5. Read and document result– the quantitative measurement value appears on the display and can be discussed immediately.