Texas dental journal
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Poor oral health affects more than just the mouth. It can seriously compromise a person's general health, quality of life and life expectancy. Oral diseases can and do lead to systemic problems--damaging other parts of the body and resulting in the need for expensive emergency department visits, hospital stays and medications. ⋯ This challenge must be approached as a shared responsibility--among dentists, allied health professionals, primary care providers, policymakers, community-based organizations, parents and schools. The job is too big--and too important--for any one group to try to tackle alone. The time to act is now.