Addressing Oral Health Needs in Vulnerable and Underserved Populations
A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 7 August 2026 | Viewed by 8
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Oral health is a vital component of overall health, yet underserved and at-risk populations, including individuals living in poverty, experiencing incarceration, managing chronic illness or disability, or facing limited access to care, continue to carry a disproportionate burden of oral disease. These disparities are influenced by various factors, including social and economic conditions, gaps in access to care, and inadequate delivery of preventive services.
In this Special Issue, we hope to highlight practical, community-informed, and evidence-based approaches that can help close these gaps and improve oral health outcomes where they are needed most.
We welcome original research, case studies, and reviews on topics such as oral disease burden, barriers to dental care, culturally tailored interventions, innovative care delivery models, and the integration of oral health into primary and community health systems.
Submissions that explore interdisciplinary strategies and measurable impacts on oral health outcomes are especially encouraged. The aim of this Issue is to contribute actionable insights to reduce disparities and improve the quality, accessibility, and continuity of oral health care for those most at risk.
Prof. Dr. Ana Neumann
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- oral health disparities
- vulnerable populations
- community oral health
- access to dental care
- health policy
- cultural competency in oral health care
- oral disease prevention
- social determinants of oral health
- underserved populations
- clinical outcomes
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