title: Community nurses' contribution to oral health.
abstract: Oral health is an important component of general health and well-being. Although oral health has improved dramatically in children and young adults, oral diseases remain common, particularly among disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. Many patients seen by community nurses will fall into these categories and are less likely to have sought treatment. This article presents the epidemiology of oral diseases and conditions for specific groups in society that community nurses will be caring for. It looks at prescribing principles and describes treatment and advice for common oral conditions, including those where prescription may be appropriate. Community nurses play an important role in the oral health care of society, particularly among those least likely to access dental services.
authors.affiliation: Dental Public Health, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Dental Institute, King's College, London.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rowe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009909:Oral Health; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing*; D006113:United Kingdom