ORAL HEALTH IN AMERICA: PART 2 The newly issued report Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges, provides a comprehensive snapshot of oral health in America, including an examination of oral health across the lifespan and a look at the impact the issue has on communities and the economy. Major take- aways from the report include: Healthy behaviors can improve and maintain an individual's oral health, but these behaviors are also shaped by social and economic conditions. Oral and medical conditions often share common risk factors, and just as medical conditions and their treatments can influence oral health, so can oral conditions and their treatments affect other health issues. Substance misuse and mental health conditions negatively affect the oral health of many. Group disparities around oral health, identified 20 years ago, have not been adequately addressed, and greater efforts are needed to tackle both the social and commercial determinants that create these inequities and the systemic biases that perpetuate them. The COVID-19 pandemic emerged while the report was being written. The science around SARS-CoV-2 continues to come into focus in real time, and, although data were only starting to surface about the oral implications of the disease, the authors included a preliminary analysis of it to assess initial impacts. The authors identify the need to improve access to care by developing a more diverse oral health care workforce, addressing the rising cost of dental education, expanding insurance coverage, and improving the overall affordability of care. SM-CL2004990 Presented as a service to the community by Dr. Barbara Webster 1121 Warren Ave., Suite 130, Downers Grove, IL 60515 630-663-0554 ORAL HEALTH IN AMERICA : PART 2 The newly issued report Oral Health in America : Advances and Challenges , provides a comprehensive snapshot of oral health in America , including an examination of oral health across the lifespan and a look at the impact the issue has on communities and the economy . Major take aways from the report include : Healthy behaviors can improve and maintain an individual's oral health , but these behaviors are also shaped by social and economic conditions . Oral and medical conditions often share common risk factors , and just as medical conditions and their treatments can influence oral health , so can oral conditions and their treatments affect other health issues . Substance misuse and mental health conditions negatively affect the oral health of many . Group disparities around oral health , identified 20 years ago , have not been adequately addressed , and greater efforts are needed to tackle both the social and commercial determinants that create these inequities and the systemic biases that perpetuate them . The COVID - 19 pandemic emerged while the report was being written . The science around SARS - CoV - 2 continues to come into focus in real time , and , although data were only starting to surface about the oral implications of the disease , the authors included a preliminary analysis of it to assess initial impacts . The authors identify the need to improve access to care by developing a more diverse oral health care workforce , addressing the rising cost of dental education , expanding insurance coverage , and improving the overall affordability of care . SM - CL2004990 Presented as a service to the community by Dr. Barbara Webster 1121 Warren Ave. , Suite 130 , Downers Grove , IL 60515 630-663-0554