Global Barriers to Accessing Oral Health Care: A Systematic Review
Authors
Dr. Aparnaa Upadhyaya, DDS, MPA, BDS
University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), College of Dentistry, Memphis, TN, USA Erlanger Community Health Center, Chattanooga, TN, USA (USA)
University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), College of Dentistry, Memphis, TN, USA Erlanger Community Health Center, Chattanooga, TN, USA (USA)
Article Information
DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI.2026.1315PH00098
Subject Category: Public Health
Volume/Issue: 13/15 | Page No: 2525-2528
Publication Timeline
Submitted: 2026-06-13
Accepted: 2026-05-19
Published: 2026-06-04
Abstract
Oral diseases affect more than 3.5 billion people globally and represent a major yet largely preventable public health burden [1–3]. Despite advances in clinical dentistry, access to oral health care remains profoundly inequitable. This systematic review synthesizes global evidence on barriers to accessing oral health care, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations. A PRISMA 2020–guided search identified 78 eligible studies. Financial, geographic, structural, sociocultural, health literacy, and policy-level barriers were consistently reported. Vulnerable populations experience compounded and intersecting barriers. Addressing these challenges requires integration of oral health into universal health coverage, financial protection mechanisms, workforce reform, and culturally responsive care models [4–7].
Keywords
oral health access; dental care barriers; vulnerable populations; health equity; public health dentistry; systematic review
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