Family Medicine and Primary Care in General Practice Dentistry

Dentistry is primary care medicine, yet its integration with systemic health remains fragmented in many healthcare systems. Family medicine frameworks—longitudinal continuity of care, comprehensive assessment, preventive emphasis, and coordination with other providers—apply directly to dental practice. This note examines the general dentist as a primary care gatekeeper, responsible for identifying oral manifestations of systemic disease, screening for common medical conditions, and communicating with physicians about dental-medical interactions. Effective primary care dentistry requires knowledge of cardiovascular risk, diabetes management, cancer screening, and medication side effects that affect the mouth. The dental visit is an entry point to health surveillance and health literacy.