The intersection of socioeconomic variables, oral health, and systemic disease: all health care is cultural.

In the last decade, there has been an increase in the proportion of the American population that lacks health insurance. Additionally, long-term disparities in health access and status for populations of color have continued to exist without major change. A review of the literature in periodontia shows a statistical relationship between the risk of periodontal disease and a range of sociodemographic characteristics (race, income, social class). However, the factors giving rise to this increased risk or how to reduce it are unclear. Cultural competence, an elaboration of biopsychosocial theory, hypothesizes a relationship between the culture of a group and its risk of disease and the kind and quality of services obtained. Four areas of a culturally competent approach are cited as a minimum base of standards for providing services to people of color.