The Surgeon General's 2000 Report notes that oral health is an essential component of the
general health and well-being of all Americans (1).Dental conditions such as periodontal (gum) disease, a source
of chronic infection and inflammation in the oral cavity, have been associated with
atherosclerosis, diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and increased risk of myocardial
infarction and stroke (1,4,5).However, researchers have identified dental care as the most frequently reported unmet
health need in national studies of both adult and youth populations (9,10).Although annual
dental examinations are an important form of preventive care, approximately 44% of
Americans lack dental insurance and may therefore experience difficulties accessing
nonemergency dental services (9,11).Researchers have also documented disparities in access
and use of dental care for rural populations (12-16).Oral health influences productivity, quality
of life, and systemic health (2,3).This may be a result of common pathophysiologic pathways
involved in inflammation and altered host response (6).Tooth decay is the most common
chronic disease in childhood, occurring five to eight times more often than asthma (7,8).Many oral health conditions can be detected early and are preventable with appropriate care
(9).