the impact of social inequalities on oral health and quilty of life in children and adolescents

Abstract

Objective: To conduct a scoping review of the literature on the impact of social inequalities on oral health and quality of life among children and adolescents. Methods: Relevant articles were searched for in the electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library, focusing on studies indexed with relevant MESH terms and following PECO criteria for selection. The process involved conducting searches in databases, reviewing titles and abstracts, assessing full texts, and manually searching reference lists. The risk of bias was assessed using a validated quality assessment tool.

Results: In total, 397 studies were identified, and 21 studies were included in this scoping review, the full text of which was assessed for potential bias. All articles highlighted the prevalence of dental caries as a persistent health issue among young people, with Indigenous peoples and those from low-income families having higher risks and less favourable outcomes. The findings also revealed disparities in oral health and access to dental care, which are attributed to a complex interplay of individual, community, and environmental factors.

Conclusion: Social inequalities largely drive oral health disparities, so interventions must address various socioeconomic determinants to improve oral health among disadvantaged children and adolescents. Further research should aim to clarify the causative factors and effective strategies to combat these inequalities for better oral health outcomes.