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Hyde S, Satariano WA et al. J Dent Res 2006; 85: 79–84

In San Francisco, a special benefit programme is directed towards employable single indigent adults. In 1999, a dental aspect was added to this, and in the next 18 months, 379 people requested dental services, of whom 377 agreed to participate in the present study. Dental treatment was completed by 265 of these. Two-thirds of participants were male and about half were African American.

At baseline, those who completed treatment had more missing teeth and fewer decayed teeth than those who did not. Oral health related quality of life improved in 4/5 of those treated, with marked amelioration of psychological discomfort and disability. Compared with those who never started treatment, of whom half had unfavourable employment outcomes, those with incomplete treatment did not have a significantly improved outcome, but those who completed treatment did (OR 2.0, CI 1.1-3.6). The authors consider that oral health treatment can help to reduce barriers to employment.