Abstract
Unlike dental care, which is the responsibility of dental providers, oral health care is broader and should
be owned by all health providers regardless of discipline. The current environment, in which oral health
is seen as a separate, stand-alone healthcare entity, does not foster comprehensive quality care.
Evidence shows that oral health complications, such as infections that begin in the mouth, can travel
throughout the body and lead to major health complications, even death. In parallel, a dental exam may
reveal signs of general health problems, such as nutritional deficiencies and systemic diseases, including
microbial infections, immune disorders, injuries, and some cancers. Furthermore, poor oral health is
associated with a number of social ills, including limited active engagement in society, loss of
productivity, school absenteeism, in addition to inappropriate emergency department use, underemployment and unemployment, and has an adverse effect on military readiness. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) offers an opportunity for innovations in the health care delivery systems
and calls for a holistic approach to population healthcare. By testing value-based payment models, the
ACA is encouraging changes in medical care delivery systems and financing to ensure and maintain
wellness across healthcare domains. These models work by pooling financial risk among a wide
spectrum of health care providers. This is an opportunity to move towards an integrated oral and
general health system.