The Oral Risk Assessment and Early Intervention System--a clinician's tool for integrating the bio/psycho/social risk into oral disease interventions.

An association between oral diseases and systemic diseases has been suspected for centuries. More recently, investigation has provided insight into the impact of psychologic factors, social value systems, beliefs about disease processes and predictive treatment outcomes. Historically, dentistry has focused primarily on the restoration of physical function rather than broader multifactorial issues that impact long-term health maintenance. Dental patients are a complex interaction of biologic susceptibilities, lifestyle behaviors, values, and disease risk variables, which require an interdisciplinary approach to provide optimal health care. This article provides information-processing tools to assist clinicians in developing appropriate patient interventions by employing on Oral Risk Assessment and Early Intervention System.