About this Research Topic

Background

Oral health is intrinsically linked to overall health and quality of life, influencing multiple aspects of daily living, from nutrition to self-esteem and social participation. Neglecting oral health can affect systemic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and, over the lifespan, adverse outcomes in pregnancy to later life cognitive impairments. Moreover, social determinants such as income, education, and local access to good food and healthcare services significantly impact oral health outcomes, leading to disparities across the life cycle. This Research Topic seeks to achieve a holistic understanding of oral health-related quality of life through a lifespan approach, identifying critical periods for intervention and strategies to mitigate disparities. Current and previous policy initiatives also merit further assessment to highlight what works and what hasn’t in attempts to promote oral health at a societal level.

By examining oral health through a lifespan approach, we aim to elucidate the pivotal role of oral health in overall well-being and chart effective interventions tailored to different life stages and contexts.

We especially welcome submissions that delve into the connections between oral health and quality of life, a theme which lies at the heart of this Research Topic.

We invite contributions that cover:

Pediatric Oral Health:

o Examining the role of early dental care in preventing childhood tooth decay, the most common chronic disease among children.

o Investigating the impact of parental knowledge and practices on children's oral health outcomes and methods to improve these through educational interventions.

Adolescent Dental Care:

o Addressing orthodontic and complex dental issues specific to adolescence, including the role of diet and hormonal changes.

o Exploring the influence of social media and peer pressure on adolescents' oral health behaviors and the potential for digital health interventions.

Oral Health Maintenance in Adulthood:

o Best practices for managing periodontal diseases, which afflict nearly half of adults over 30, and their connection to systemic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

o Evaluating the economic burden of dental treatments in adulthood and strategies for cost-effective preventive care.

Strategies for Ensuring Oral Health in the Elderly:

o Innovative approaches for addressing tooth loss, dry mouth, and other age-related oral health issues that impact nutrition and quality of life.

o The role of caregiver education in improving oral health outcomes for dependent older adults.

Attention to the intersectional nature of oral health as a metric and marker for quality of life, the scope of this Research Topic also extends to:

· Social Determinants and Disparities:

o Investigating how socioeconomic status, education, race, geographic location, and syndemic factors influence oral health outcomes and access to care across the lifespan.

o Strategies to reduce disparities and promote equitable oral health care.

· Policy Initiatives and Implementation:

o Analyzing the impact of policies such as community water fluoridation and school dental programs on public oral health.

o Case studies on successful local and national initiatives that have improved oral health outcomes, along with lessons learned from their implementation.

By bringing together research across these areas, we aim to identify critical periods for oral health interventions and understand the long-term and context-specific impacts of oral health on overall oral health-related quality of life.

We welcome interdisciplinary perspectives and encourage submissions from researchers, healthcare providers, policymakers, and social scientists who aim to contribute to this comprehensive exploration of oral health across the lifespan.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic is open for submission in the following formats:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic is open for submission in the following formats:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: oral health, quality of life, pediatric dental care, adolescent dental health, adult periodontal disease, elderly oral care, oral health disparities, socioeconomic impact on oral health, public oral health policy, dental care access, OHRQOL

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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