Chukwuemeka L Anyikwa, Peter A Brennan, Chukwuebuka E Ogwo
{"title":"Why Oral Health Deserves a Seat at the Global Health Table.","authors":"Chukwuemeka L Anyikwa, Peter A Brennan, Chukwuebuka E Ogwo","doi":"10.1111/jop.70065","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oral diseases affect billions worldwide yet remain sidelined in both national and global health policies. This oversight has perpetuated disparities in care access, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The separation of oral health from broader healthcare systems is illogical and dangerous, given oral health's deep connections to systemic health. This commentary calls for the integration of oral health into primary care and its recognition as a fundamental health right. Essential dental services must be incorporated into universal health coverage (UHC), financial barriers dismantled, and policy frameworks updated. A paradigm shift is essential to position oral health at the heart of global health policy and noncommunicable disease (NCD) prevention strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":16588,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jop.70065","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Oral diseases affect billions worldwide yet remain sidelined in both national and global health policies. This oversight has perpetuated disparities in care access, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The separation of oral health from broader healthcare systems is illogical and dangerous, given oral health's deep connections to systemic health. This commentary calls for the integration of oral health into primary care and its recognition as a fundamental health right. Essential dental services must be incorporated into universal health coverage (UHC), financial barriers dismantled, and policy frameworks updated. A paradigm shift is essential to position oral health at the heart of global health policy and noncommunicable disease (NCD) prevention strategies.
期刊介绍:
The aim of the Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine is to publish manuscripts of high scientific quality representing original clinical, diagnostic or experimental work in oral pathology and oral medicine. Papers advancing the science or practice of these disciplines will be welcomed, especially those which bring new knowledge and observations from the application of techniques within the spheres of light and electron microscopy, tissue and organ culture, immunology, histochemistry and immunocytochemistry, microbiology, genetics and biochemistry.