Movement Is Life-Optimizing Patient Access to Total Joint Arthroplasty: Dental Health Disparities

Poor oral health is common in the United States; however, it is much more common in African Americans, Hispanics, and other racial/ethnic minorities. Almost one in five low-income adults states that their mouth and teeth are in poor condition. Twenty-nine percent of Americans have no dental insurance. Patients who have active infections are at greater risk for prosthetic joint infection. Optimization in these vulnerable groups should focus on treating active infections, with a prioritization of free clinics, academic clinics, and websites, such as "The Neighborhood Navigator," and easily accessible surgical consults.