How Should Emergency Department Clinicians Respond to Unmet Dental Needs?

Abstract

The division between medical and dental care exacerbates health inequity and forces many with compromised access to seek oral health care in emergency departments (EDs). Since dentists are best positioned to offer quality care for most patients’ oral health problems, this commentary on a case suggests why ED clinicians should offer appropriate oral health referrals and resources to those they serve and why all health professionals should advocate for systems-level policy and organizational changes to increase patients’ access to oral health care.