Patient self-report of oral health: Predicting the need for oral care

Abstract

Background: People with complex medical conditions often experience barriers to oral care and are at an increased risk of developing dental disease, which may lead to local exacerbation, pain, and systemic infection. As access to primary medical care increases, improved screening methods by non-dental providers may address these barriers. This study investigates the predictive ability of a patient reported oral symptoms instrument to determine the need for urgent versus routine dental care.