Social Determinants of Untreated Dental Caries among Vulnerable Populations: A Scoping Review of Oral Health Inequalities

Abstract

Background: Dental caries remains the most prevalent non-communicable disease worldwide, yet its burden is disproportionately borne by socially and economically vulnerable populations. Untreated dental caries continues to represent a critical public health challenge that reflects deeper patterns of structural inequality embedded within health systems globally.
Objectives: This scoping review systematically examines the social determinants of untreated dental caries in vulnerable populations, including children, racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants, indigenous communities, homeless individuals, and incarcerated persons, with the aim of synthesizing evidence on how structural, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors intersect to perpetuate oral health inequalities.