Though insurance plans and government-run health care plans often treat dental and vision care as supplementary, health care providers and patients know that proper oral and eye care are essential to good health. As a 2000 Surgeon General report notes, “The terms oral health and general health should not be interpreted as separate entities. Oral health is integral to general health… Oral health means more than healthy teeth and… you cannot be healthy without oral health.” Untreated dental problems can lead to life-threatening infections, and even simple dental caries can cause considerable pain and discomfort. Likewise, vision problems negatively impact quality of life, but can also contribute to serious long-term health problems, particularly in patients with diabetes.
Healing Hands: Dental and Vision Care for Homeless Patients
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Clinical Practice, Conditions and Issues, Healing Hands Newsletter, Oral Health