Cuaderno de odontología. Revista científica
Vol. 3(1), 21-26, 2025
https://doi.org/10.62574/d4eyh770
21
Oral health education in vulnerable populations: Systematic review
Educación en salud bucal en poblaciones vulnerables: Revisión sistemática
Delia María Villacrés-Yancha
uq.dmvillacres72@uniandes.edu.ec
Universidad Regional Autónoma de los Andes, Quevedo, Los Ríos, Ecuador
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1975-3153
ABSTRACT
Objective: to analyse oral health education in vulnerable populations through a systematic review.
Method: systematic review. Results: 15 scientific articles were reviewed. Conclusion: oral health
education is an essential tool for improving the quality of life of people in vulnerable situations and
reducing health inequalities. Adapting educational programmes to the specific needs of each group
has proven to be an effective strategy for promoting good habits and preventing oral diseases.
However, there are still significant challenges, such as ensuring that these programmes are
sustainable and overcoming cultural barriers.
Descriptors: oral health; oral hygiene; chemical reactions. (DeCS).
RESUMEN
Objetivo: analizar la educación en salud bucal en poblaciones vulnerables desde una revisión
sistemática. Método: Revisión sistemática. Resultados: se revisaron 15 articulos científicos.
Conclusión: La educación en salud bucal es una herramienta esencial para mejorar la calidad de
vida de las personas en situación de vulnerabilidad y reducir las desigualdades en salud. Adaptar los
programas educativos a las necesidades específicas de cada grupo ha demostrado ser una
estrategia efectiva para promover buenos hábitos y prevenir enfermedades bucales. Sin embargo,
todavía existen retos importantes, como garantizar que estos programas sean sostenibles, superar
las barreras culturales.
Descriptores: salud bucal; higiene bucal; reacciones químicas. (DeCS).
Received: 15/10/2024. Reviewed: 23/12/2024. Approved: 13/01/2025. Published: 31/01/2025.
Original short
Cuaderno de odontología. Revista científica
Vol. 3(1), 21-26, 2025
Educación en salud bucal en poblaciones vulnerables: Revisión sistemática
Oral health education in vulnerable populations: Systematic review
Delia María Villacrés-Yancha
22
INTRODUCTION
Oral diseases, such as dental caries, periodontal disease and oral infections,
continue to be prevalent public health problems, especially in vulnerable populations
(1,2). These communities, which include children, people with disabilities, patients
with systemic diseases and those in disadvantaged socioeconomic contexts, face
significant barriers to accessing oral health services and preventive education
(3,6,8).
Oral health education is a key strategy for tackling these inequalities, as it promotes
knowledge, encourages healthy habits and empowers people to look after their oral
health (4,7). However, the effectiveness of these interventions depends on their
design, implementation and adaptation to the specific needs of each population (9).
Therefore, the importance of including oral health education in the training curricula
of health professionals, such as nurses and dentists, has been pointed out as a way
of guaranteeing more inclusive and effective work (12,15).
In view of the above, the research objective is to analyse oral health education in
vulnerable populations through a systematic review.
METHOD
A systematic review is presented. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines were followed.
The search for 15 articles was carried out in databases such as PubMed, Scopus,
Web of Science.
Key words related to the subject were used, such as ‘oral health education’,
‘vulnerable populations’, ‘oral health promotion’, ‘disabilities’, ‘children’, ‘systemic
diseases’ and ‘educational programmes’, combined with Boolean operators (AND,
OR).
RESULTS
Educational programmes aimed at children and adolescents have proven effective
in improving their oral hygiene habits. Lai et al. (1) found that interventions in children
Cuaderno de odontología. Revista científica
Vol. 3(1), 21-26, 2025
Educación en salud bucal en poblaciones vulnerables: Revisión sistemática
Oral health education in vulnerable populations: Systematic review
Delia María Villacrés-Yancha
23
with special needs had a positive impact on their knowledge and oral care practices,
although maintaining these changes in the long term remains a challenge.
Meanwhile, Subedi et al. (3) reported positive results in schoolchildren in Nepal,
where an educational programme significantly reduced plaque accumulation and
tooth decay. In the case of children with visual impairments, Chua et al. (9)
emphasise the importance of using adapted methods, such as tactile and auditory
materials, to ensure that these populations can benefit from the interventions.
The role of parents and carers is crucial in promoting children's oral health. According
to Chen et al. (2), the educational level of parents has a direct influence on their
knowledge of oral health and on their children's hygiene habits. This highlights the
need to include carers in educational programmes, especially in communities with
low levels of health literacy. Consequently, Joufi et al. (7) affirm that initiatives such
as Early Head Start in the United States have been successful in involving parents
as key agents in the promotion of their children's oral health.
Oral health education is also essential for patients with systemic diseases. Bezerra
et al. (5) demonstrated that educational programmes can reduce the incidence and
severity of oral mucositis in children with cancer, improving their quality of life during
treatment. Similarly, Petropoulou et al. (8) found that educational interventions in
patients with diabetes not only improve their oral health, but also contribute to the
control of the disease, which demonstrates the close relationship between oral and
systemic health.
People with physical or sensory disabilities face significant barriers to accessing oral
health education. Sardana et al. (6) and Chua et al. (9) agree that programmes
designed specifically for these populations, such as those that use accessible
materials and interactive methods, are effective in improving their oral health. On the
other hand, Almeida et al. (11) emphasise the importance of personalising
educational materials, such as adapted leaflets, for patients with specific conditions
such as systemic sclerosis.
The training of health professionals plays a key role in the promotion of oral health
Cuaderno de odontología. Revista científica
Vol. 3(1), 21-26, 2025
Educación en salud bucal en poblaciones vulnerables: Revisión sistemática
Oral health education in vulnerable populations: Systematic review
Delia María Villacrés-Yancha
24
in vulnerable populations. Ahmad et al. (15) analysed nursing curricula in Australia
and Malaysia and concluded that including content on oral health improves the ability
of professionals to address the needs of their patients. For their part, Shokouhi et al.
(12) emphasise the importance of adapting educational programmes to the cultural
realities of each region, which can increase the acceptance and effectiveness of
interventions.
The future of oral health education requires innovative approaches. West (4) and
Lopez Fuentes (10) call for the integration of technologies such as mobile
applications and digital platforms to expand access to education, especially in
remote communities, while Donoff and Simon (14) argue that dental education must
evolve towards a more inclusive and patient-centred approach to address persistent
oral health inequalities.
Despite progress, significant challenges remain in the implementation of educational
programmes. In this regard, Church et al. (13) identified barriers such as a lack of
resources, low health literacy and cultural differences, especially in patients with
cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it is essential to promote interdisciplinary
collaboration and take advantage of innovative technologies to overcome existing
barriers, as Almeida et al. (11) point out, personalising educational materials is key
to guaranteeing their effectiveness in different contexts and populations.
CONCLUSION
Oral health education is an essential tool for improving the quality of life of people in
vulnerable situations and reducing health inequalities. Adapting educational
programmes to the specific needs of each group has proven to be an effective
strategy for promoting good habits and preventing oral diseases. However, there are
still significant challenges, such as ensuring that these programmes are sustainable
and overcoming cultural barriers.
Cuaderno de odontología. Revista científica
Vol. 3(1), 21-26, 2025
Educación en salud bucal en poblaciones vulnerables: Revisión sistemática
Oral health education in vulnerable populations: Systematic review
Delia María Villacrés-Yancha
25
FINANCING
Non-monetary
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
There is no conflict of interest with people or institutions linked to the research.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To the national research department of UNIANDES.
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Vol. 3(1), 21-26, 2025
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Oral health education in vulnerable populations: Systematic review
Delia María Villacrés-Yancha
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