The role of the dental team in promoting health equity

Abstract

A recent important report endorsed by several prestigious and influential medical and dental organisations has outlined what health professions can do to reduce health inequalities. Despite overall improvements in oral health in recent decades, there are unacceptable inequalities in oral diseases. Urgent action is needed to reduce these unfair and unjust oral health inequalities that exist across society. Primary care dental teams are in an important position to become actively engaged in promoting oral health equity, both for their own patients and the wider community. This paper highlights practical ways that dental teams can become involved in action to reduce oral health inequalities. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited.