Global situation of oral health coverage toward universal health coverage: A scoping review

Objective

This study investigates the status of Universal Health Coverage in oral/dental services from the perspectives of population, service, and cost coverage, as well as other aspects of financing, using a scoping review.

Method

A scoping review of published articles from 2000 to 2024 was conducted, utilizing scientific databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and ProQuest, along with other sources such as grey literature and Google Scholar.

Result

The initial search identified 58,778 articles, with 28 articles included in the final analysis after screening and full-text review. The included countries were Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Ukraine, and the United States. The condition of oral health coverage was reported by factors such as dental health expenditure, coverage type, service and cost coverage, coverage of age/specific groups, and cost sharing.

Conclusion

Dental services are mainly provided by the private sector, do not have adequate public coverage and are mainly financed by out-of-pocket payments. However, Dental health expenditure and coverage vary significantly across countries, influenced by diverse healthcare systems, economic conditions, and public health priorities. Countries like Sweden and the United Kingdom demonstrate strong public funding commitments, providing comprehensive coverage for preventive and basic services. In contrast, countries like Australia and the United States rely more on private insurance, leading to higher out-of-pocket costs for individuals. Addressing high out-of-pocket payments and ensuring equitable access to oral health care remain key challenges.