Interdisciplinary Care Model: Pneumonia and Oral Health

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of classification, epidemiology, oral and systemic characterization of disease and symptomology, approaches to diagnosis and disease management across the spectrum of pneumonia subtypes. In addition, the evidence base supporting oral-systemic connections between oral diseases and pneumonia is explored and recommendations for dental diagnoses in the context of pneumonia are proposed. With respect to advances in the research arena, consideration of microbiota and pneumonia phenotypes is examined, as well as current approaches to risk assessment surrounding definition of relative risk for pneumonia susceptibility. Further, interdisciplinary medical-dental care delivery is explored including development of interdisciplinary care plans for patient management. Finally, current ontology surrounding pneumonia, technical implications and opportunities for achieving improved definitions of pneumonia subtype phenotypes and quality assessment in care delivery are briefly explored.