Geriatrics
Oral Health Literacy and Persistent Oral Health Inequalities in Older Adults: A Conceptual Model
By Pallien HM, Alrayes M, Niemuth A and 5 others.
Abstract
Background
Oral health inequalities in older adults persist despite the availability of effective preventive and clinical interventions, representing a significant public health challenge in ageing societies.
Objective
This narrative review examines how oral health literacy (OHL) and structural barriers interact to sustain these inequalities and proposes a conceptual framework to guide future research and intervention design.
Methods
A narrative synthesis of peer-reviewed literature and authoritative policy documents published between January 2015 and October 2025 was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Older foundational studies were included where conceptually relevant. Findings were organised thematically into three categories: oral health literacy, structural barriers and their interaction within a social-ecological framework.