Oral Health and Hospital Outcomes
Last reviewed:
Strength of the evidence at a glance
| Topic | What the evidence shows | Strength | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental ED visits | Nearly 2 million a year; most EDs cannot provide definitive dental care | Strong national data | Dental Patients in the ER |
| Severe dental infections | 145,000+ abscess hospitalizations in 2020–2022, at high cost | Strong national data | Severe Dental Infections |
| Diabetes | Treating gum disease lowers HbA1c about 0.4 points at 3–4 months | Moderate-certainty trial evidence | Diabetes and Gum Disease |
| Heart disease | Linked to gum disease; cause not shown | Association only | Heart Health and Gum Disease |
| Dementia | Linked to gum disease; cause not shown | Association only | Dementia and Oral Health |
| Hospital pneumonia | CDC recommends oral care to help prevent NV-HAP | Federal guidance; site-level results | Oral Care and Hospital Pneumonia |
| End-of-life comfort | Mouth problems very common in palliative care | Small studies, consistent findings | Hospice and Palliative Oral Care |
What this means for health systems
Dental care rarely appears in hospital workflows, yet it touches emergency care, infection risk, chronic disease and comfort. A hospital dental pathway gives clinicians a way to reach dental expertise and gives patients a next step.
Frequently asked questions
Is oral health really linked to overall health?
Yes. NIDCR's 2021 report describes oral health as central to overall health, though the strength of evidence differs by condition.
Which link has the strongest evidence?
The effect of gum treatment on blood sugar in diabetes, supported by randomized trials.
Bring oral health into your hospital's care.
Please do not include patient information.
Sources
- CDC, NCHS Data Brief 531
- CareQuest Institute for Oral Health: Recent Trends in Hospital Emergency Department Visits for Non-Traumatic Dental Conditions
- CMS, Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services: Adult Non-Traumatic Dental Condition ED Visits
- Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors: Reducing Emergency Department Utilization for Non-Traumatic Dental Conditions (2020)
- American Dental Association: Emergency Department Referrals
- American Dental Association: Antibiotics for Dental Pain and Swelling (2019 guideline)
- AHRQ HCUP: Emergency Dental Visit Costs
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: Oral Health in America (2021)
- CDC Oral Health to Prevent Pneumonia Toolkit
- ADA News: Factors Impacting Hospitalization for Periapical Abscess
- Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) study
- Journal of Endodontics study summary (DrBicuspid): U.S. Sees Alarming Rise in Dental Infection Hospitalizations
- Cochrane Review (Simpson et al., 2022): Treatment of Periodontitis for Glycaemic Control in People with Diabetes Mellitus
- American Heart Association scientific statement: Periodontal Disease and Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease (2012)
- Healthy People 2030 evidence summary: Treatment of Periodontitis for Glycaemic Control in People with Diabetes Mellitus
- Age and Ageing meta-analysis (Larvin et al., 2023): Periodontitis and Risk of Cognitive Decline and Dementia
- Annals of Long-Term Care review: Maintaining Oral Health in Palliative Care Patients
- AHRQ Guide to Patient and Family Engagement in Hospital Quality and Safety