The prevalence of dental caries in Missouri and its relation to systemic disease: opportunities for Missouri to improve the health of its citizens.

Recently, it has been recognized that poor oral health conditions, especially periodontitis, have been a contributing factor to several systemic diseases. Evidence shows that Missouri should be concerned about the current state of caries and its prevention. The prevalence of caries and lack of preventative care in Missouri warrants an examination of the current efforts in place to reduce caries and the creation of novel approaches that bridge the gap between oral and medical care. This paper discusses this problem in depth.