Oral health is increasingly recognized for its interconnectedness to systemic health, with emerging evidence highlighting their bidirectional relationship. Oral diseases, affecting approximately 3.5 billion people globally, disproportionately burden low- and middle-income countries due to inadequate healthcare access. Recognizing oral health as a component of overall well-being emphasizes the need for integrative approaches linking dentistry and medicine. This Collection presents clinical and experimental studies addressing oral-systemic health connections. Clinical trials evaluated temporomandibular disorders, juvenile idiopathic arthritis impacts on TMJ deformities, oral rehabilitation post-esophagectomy, and botulinum toxin interventions for masseter hypertrophy. An animal study demonstrated combined skeletal regeneration potential of dietary hesperidin and recombinant BMP2. Additionally, a genome-wide association study of salivary microbiota linked genetic variants to cardiometabolic diseases, underscoring how host genetics influence oral microbial diversity and systemic health outcomes. In conclusion, collaborative dental-medical strategies are essential for improved patient outcomes and systemic health management.
- Farah Ibrahim Al-Marzooq
- Nikolaos Christidis
