About this Research Topic

Background

Oral health is a critical, yet often underestimated, aspect of global public health. Despite numerous advancements, oral diseases continue to burden populations worldwide, forcing health systems to reconsider their approach toward oral health care. Public health policies specifically targeting oral health have been pivotal, employing inter-sectoral coordination and comprehensive strategies. Yet, challenges such as inadequate funding, resource allocation, and limited access to necessary care persist, impeding effective prevention and management of oral diseases.

This Research Topic aims to explore innovative strategies to enhance oral health outcomes through effective public health policies. The main objectives include evaluating current policies' efficacy, identifying key areas of need, and proposing solutions to overcome existing barriers. By integrating recent advances in health systems management and stakeholder roles, this topic seeks to foster a broader understanding of how public policies can better address the complexities of oral health care and disease prevention.

The scope of this issue is broad yet focused, aiming to cover various facets of oral health as they relate to public health policies. We welcome contributions that address:

- Systematic analysis of existing health policies affecting oral health.

- Studies on the impact of socio-economic inequalities on oral health outcomes.

- Evaluations of stakeholder roles in formulation and implementation of oral health policies.

- Research on effective health promotion and disease prevention strategies.

- Critical reviews of health resource development and capacity building in oral health.

Contributions may be in the form of research articles, review articles, case studies, and policy analysis papers that thrust forward the discourse in oral health policy and public health strategies.

We acknowledge the funding of several manuscripts published in this Research Topic by the Africa CDC. We hereby state publicly that the sponsor has had no editorial input in articles included in this Research Topic, thus ensuring that all aspects of this Research Topic are evaluated objectively, unbiased by any specific policy or opinion of the Africa CDC.

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: public health policies oral health, oral health challenges, oral health care access, oral diseases prevention, health policy impact oral health, oral health resource allocation, oral health inequalities, stakeholders oral health policies

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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