Oral health professionals should be prepared to provide equitable care to this often stigmatized population.

Patient care and team building are supported by highly effective interpersonal communication skills.

From using professional interpretation services to addressing low health literacy, ensuring effective communication between patients and providers is Integral to positive outcomes.

With an increasingly diverse population, oral health professionals need to be able to communicate effectively with all types of patients.

The majority of periodontal patients can retain their dentition with appropriate treatment, effective plaque control, and regular maintenance.

Assessing and addressing low oral health literacy can help improve patient adherence to recommendations and outcomes.

While tobacco use continues to decline in adults, its prevalence is growing among young people, emphasizing the need for effective prevention and intervention strategies.

As the ranks of older adults continue to grow, oral health professionals must adapt their clinical approaches to meet the needs of this patient population.

An individualized approach to behavior modification may be the most successful in improving compliance with treatment and self-care regimens.

Without the development of, and compliance with, a structured maintenance program, the long-term success of restorative care is at risk.