The oral cavity has been described as “the window to general health.” 1 According to Seymour, statements such as “You cannot have good general health without good oral health” and “The mouth is part of the body” are now considered obvious. 2 The oral cavity is also the intersection of dentistry and medicine, semi-independent professions that share the same common goal of improving the health and quality of life of patients. At the heart of each profession is the basic concept that appropriate interventions within the framework of that discipline will have an overall positive impact on patients’ health, welfare, and quality of life. 3 It has been estimated that more than 100 systemic diseases and upward of 500 medications have oral manifestations, which are typically more prevalent in the older population. Hippocrates reportedly cured systemic conditions by pulling infected teeth. 4 Despite this, the relationship and impact of oral conditions on systemic conditions has not been fully appreciated until recently. 4 Is there direct causality between oral and systemic health conditions, or is it just coincidence? This is the main question that may have slowed the understanding of these processes as well as the interaction and collaboration between dentistry and medicine. Bidirectional relationships between oral and systemic conditions are becoming better understood, but more research into this area is needed. 5 As the impact of oral health on systemic health is clarified and proven, dental and medical professionals need to develop closer ties. Whether causal or coincidental, the impact and importance of oral health on overall health has been the focus of multiple surgeons general of the United States as well as the World Health Organization. 6 Access to dental and medical care is a complicated issue; availability of care, cost of care and insurance, cultural issues, and fear are all factors that keep patients out of the office. From a population health perspective, it should not matter who initially examines the patient and identifies a risk factor or early evidence of a disease; what matters is that the patient gets the care he or she needs.