Challenges in dental public health – An overview

Oral health diseases are common in allregions of the world and their impact on anatomicaland social functioning is widely acknowledged.Their distributions are unequal between and withincountries, with the greatest burden falling ondisadvantaged and socially marginalized populations.The risk factors and social determinants for oral diseaseshave been comprehensively documented, and theevidence base for their prevention is growing. However,decisions on health care are still often made withouta solid grounding in research evidence. Translation ofresearch into policy and practice should be a priority forall. Both community and individual interventions needtailoring to achieve a more equal and person-centeredpreventive focus and reduce any social gradient in health.The major challenges of the future will be to translateknowledge and experiences in oral disease preventionand health promotion into action programmes.The international oral health research community needsto engage further in research capacity building and instrengthening the work so that research is recognized asthe foundation of oral health policy at global level.