The connection between oral health and kidney health is clear. Poor oral health, particularly periodontal (gum) disease, can worsen chronic kidney disease (CKD), which afflicts more than 1 in 10 (37 million) adults in the US. Gum disease is also linked to diabetes and heart disease, which are primary risk factors for CKD.
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This visual report explains the bidirectional relationship between oral health and kidney health, and advances strategies for more integrated, whole-person care that can improve both. Key points include:
- Research suggests that periodontal treatment can help improve kidney function, and that managing CKD can help improve indicators of periodontal disease.
- Including oral health services within dialysis centers or kidney clinics can allow patients to receive oral health services on the same day as medical visits.
- Interdisciplinary care teams, structured referral systems, and payment models that incentivize integrated care can support more coordinated management for high-risk patients.
The authors write:
Aligning patient education across kidney care and dental settings can reinforce consistent messaging about the oral-kidney connection, empowering patients to engage in preventive behaviors and seek timely care.”
Together, these strategies offer a path to integrating oral health into kidney care, with the potential to improve outcomes, enhance patient experience, and advance health equity.
You may also be interested in:
- From Silos to Synergy: Integrating Oral Health into Whole-Person Care Through Interprofessional Practice, a white paper and use cases exploring interprofessional practice to improve chronic disease management.
- Periodontal Therapy Among Patients with Cardiovascular Disease, a journal article finding that people with heart disease who received periodontal therapy had lower overall medical costs.
- Integration and Coordination to Improve the Patient Experience, a self-paced course that shares interprofessional collaboration strategies for dental professionals to address systemic issues and patients’ overall health. Eligible for one free CE credit.