Interdisciplinary and Cross-Sectoral Approaches to Oral Health Promotion

Oral health is shaped by a broad array of determinants that transcend clinical care and the boundaries of the traditional health sector. Beyond direct dental interventions, health outcomes are affected by family environments, schools, communities, workplaces, and the wider social and built environment. One of the principal strategies for health promotion, as outlined in the Ottawa Charter (1986), is ‘facilitating collaboration and partnerships between different sectors’. For oral health, systemic risk factors such as dietary habits (e.g., consumption of free sugars), tobacco use, and access to fluoridated resources highlight the need for solutions that extend beyond dentistry alone.This Research Topic invites contributions that champion an interdisciplinary approach, integrating insights and advances from all dental disciplines—such as general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, periodontology, prosthodontics, oral surgery, and more—toward the shared goal of promoting oral health globally. We welcome research that demonstrates how collaboration and integration among dental specialties, as well as between dentistry and other health and social care professionals (medicine, public health, social work, industry partners), can help bridge the gaps between health and disease, shedding light on oral-systemic connections and the broader determinants of oral health.Moreover, we are particularly interested in research and innovative models that support informed clinical decision-making, empower general dental practitioners and specialists to recognize and address systemic relationships, and identify circumstances where referral or cross-specialty collaboration is warranted. Studies contributing to healthy behavioral choices, early intervention, and prevention—across the lifecourse and diverse population settings—are central to the vision of this Topic.Areas of focus include, but are not limited to:• Integrative models linking oral health with primary care, interprofessional education, and multidisciplinary teams• Strategies to address oral health across all ages: from maternal and early childhood oral health, to dental care among elderly populations• Interventions to improve access to primary dental care and preventive services, and reduce inequalities in care and outcomes• School- and community-based oral health programs and evaluation of their impact• Digital innovations and mobile health for dental health education, information, and behavioral support• Identification and education around the interface between oral and systemic diseases and conditions• Clinical, policy, and community strategies for prompting appropriate referrals and collaborative careWe invite submissions of:• Community-based interventional studies• Systematic reviews and meta-analyses on multisector/ interprofessional collaborations• Reports on strategies to expand access and reduce barriers to dental care• Evaluations of effectiveness for school-based and workplace interventions• Studies of dental health education and oral health literacy campaigns• Research on digital and mobile technology applications for oral health supportBy encouraging submissions from across the full spectrum of dentistry and fostering cross-sectoral and interprofessional dialogue, this Research Topic seeks to support the development of integrated, sustainable, and globally-relevant approaches to oral health promotion. Topic editors: Rahul Siram Naidu, Khalid Almas, Giuseppe Minervini, Ajesh George Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/71970/interdisciplinary-and-cross-sectoral-approaches-to-oral-health-promotion