Oral Health Care Strategy for Psychiatric Patients

The interconnection between oral health and mental health is being increasingly recognized, highlighting the need for integrated health care. Mental disorders often lead to poor oral health due to dietary habits, medication side effects, substance abuse, and inadequate hygiene. These oral issues can significantly affect quality of life, reducing self-esteem, increasing anxiety and depression, and limiting social interactions. Despite the impact of oral issues on mental health, psychiatric patients' oral health is often neglected due to communication barriers and discomfort between dental and psychiatric providers. This review emphasizes the need for routine oral health assessments in psychiatric settings, tools used for these assessments, and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach. By fostering collaboration between dentistry and psychiatry, we can enhance health outcomes for individuals with mental health disorders. Psychiatr Ann . 2024;54(8):e240–e245.