Systematic Review Highlights Geographic Barriers to Dental Care and Calls for Improved Access Policies

A comprehensive systematic review conducted by researchers from King's College London examines the significant geographic obstacles faced by populations in accessing dental care worldwide. The study analyzes 37 papers from 26 countries and identifies various intervention strategies to improve dental service accessibility. These strategies are categorized into four main groups: workforce initiatives, outreach programs, in-reach services, and auxiliary access measures.

Workforce initiatives include adjustments in the dental team’s skill mix, engaging non-dental personnel, and implementing recruitment and retention policies to address disparities. Outreach efforts encompass teledentistry, mobile clinics, school-based services, and the establishment of community clinics, aiming to bring dental care closer to underserved populations. In-reach strategies focus on enhancing dental school clinics to serve local communities better. Auxiliary access initiatives involve fostering community engagement, improving affordability through cost-effective solutions, and ensuring adequate clinician remuneration.

The review underscores the necessity of a multi-dimensional health system approach to effectively mitigate geographic barriers. Despite limited overall evidence, the positive impacts of these interventions suggest that co-designed, community-inclusive solutions can lead to sustainable improvements in dental access. Much of the available data originates from high- and middle-income countries, emphasizing the importance of tailored approaches based on local contexts. These findings advocate for policy reforms that prioritize equitable geographic access to dental services globally.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-systematic-explores-geographic-barriers-dental.html