References
Oral conditions in the community patient: part 2—systemic complications of poor oral health

Abstract
Oral health has a symbiotic relationship with general health, with oral disease recognised to have an adverse effect on the overall systemic health of a patient. Deterioration in oral health has been shown to have an impact on the severity of chronic systemic diseases, nutrition, hydration and psychological and social wellbeing. Part 1 of this mini-series explored the common oral conditions that community patients may present with, and the role of the nursing team in aiding the prevention, diagnosis and management of these conditions. Following on from that, this article discusses the links between oral and general health, and preservation of a patient's quality of life. This article also aims to support nurses' knowledge on how to assess the oral health needs of patients, support oral care provision, how to access acute and elective dental services and signpost to additional supportive resources.
Poor oral health is recognised to have an adverse effect on the overall health of a person. Therefore, it is important that all health professionals strive to provide holistic patient care, including maintenance of oral health, in order to optimise patient outcomes. This is particularly important within the community, where nursing teams are often responsible for caring for vulnerable and older patients with complex medical histories. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) (2010) highlighted the importance of prioritising oral health within a patient's overall care plan, acknowledging that the level of oral hygiene can act as an indicator of the standard of care a patient is receiving.
Part 1 of this mini-series (Archer et al, 2020) discussed the common oral conditions that community patients may present with, as well as the role of the nursing team in aiding the prevention, diagnosis and management of these conditions. This article explores the complications that can arise with systemic diseases as a result of poor oral health and discusses how community nursing teams can support oral care and therefore prevent these systemic complications.
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