Ethnic inequalities in UK oral health: Evidence, gaps and priorities for action

LONDON, England: The structural asymmetries that pervade society as a whole are inevitably reproduced within specific industries, dentistry being no exception. A new scoping review has examined the state of evidence on ethnic inequalities in oral health across the UK, revealing clear disparities but also significant gaps in the available research. Drawing on 44 peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2021, the review highlights variations in oral disease patterns, service use and self-reported outcomes among ethnic minority groups when compared with white populations.