Oral health approach in universal health coverage

This study aimed to map how oral health is addressed within the universal health coverage (UHC).

This scoping review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Searches included the WHO Library and PubMed, Scopus, Embase, LILACS, and Cochrane databases. Quantitative and qualitative studies were included without publication date and language restrictions.

A total of 486 studies were retrieved, of which 292 were excluded in the title and abstract screening phase; 121 full-texts were assessed. After the removal of duplicates and unavailable documents, 50 studies were included in the review and categorized according to the level of scientific evidence.

Few studies discussed oral health within the UHC, mostly because this coverage does not include oral health adequately. When offered, oral health packages are limited and include specific populations. Access and use of oral health services remain guided by economic factors, exposing the theoretical financial protectionism that perpetuates health inequalities.