Oral Health Disparities: Review

Abstract

This review considered inequalities affecting oral health. Oral health inequity- inequitable access to oral health services contributes to the health inequity of the population and further exasperates the socio- economic inequity. This paper attempts to elaborate the nature of oral health inequity in India, by exploring the process and trajectories of oral health inequity. Despite vast improvement in global oral health, problems still persist in many communities and population around the world, particularly among the under privileged in both developed and developing countries. Poor oral health has a substantial impact on quality of life, with poor oral health-related quality of life, in turn, having a substantial impact on daily performance and general life satisfaction. Barriers to oral health care include illiteracy, financial constraints, cultural perceptions, lack of awareness, inequitable distribution of dental manpower and inaccessibility to services as seen in most parts of our country. Systematic differences in the dental practices attended were evident, as a function of the person's race and income, differences that are associated with social disparities in oral health. So these factors must be addressed to improve the oral health, and overall the general wellbeing, it gives a clear focus to health policy and promotes the monitoring of quantitative changes over time in inequalities in oral health, which is essential to assess the effects of health policy interventions.