How India Is Becoming A Global Leader In Dental Health

By Dr. Indu Bhushan

It will not be an exaggeration to say that India is poised to emerge as a global leader in Oral health In the 21st century, the country is, after all, leveraging its extensive network of trained dental professionals, innovative research in dental sciences, and a gradual but growing focus on public health initiatives to set a precedent for international health. Dental health diplomacy.

Why is this important?

Oral health has become an important part of India’s quest to become a healthier nation. Perhaps, even more importantly, the country is becoming the most appropriate case study to demonstrate how its integration into Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 can yield benefits across a broader spectrum.

Money where the mouth is: India’s role in the global oral health challenge

According to data from the World Health Organization, oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide. In India, it is estimated that nearly 9 in 10 people suffer from some form of oral disease, mainly gum disease and tooth decay. These conditions not only cause pain, discomfort and social isolation, but can also have a potential impact on systemic health problems and consequences such as heart disease, maternal and child health, diabetes and respiratory diseases.

With one of the largest populations of dentists and dental surgeons in the world and nearly 25,000 dental students graduating annually, India is uniquely positioned to address both local and international oral health challenges. Its advancements in teledentistry and mobile dental services that deliver education and drive behavioral change are expanding affordable access to oral care in remote and underserved regions, with viable models for scalable and sustainable public oral health care models.

By integrating knowledge, resources and best practices across borders to address common dental health challenges and promote equitable access to dental care, it is serving as a beacon for both developing and developed nations around the world.

The common good for all: oral health and the socioeconomic fabric

The benefits of incorporating oral health into universal health coverage go far beyond individual well-being and also have important economic and human development implications. It is well documented that prioritising oral health has led to improved educational outcomes, particularly in children, due to reduced absenteeism and distraction due to pain or discomfort. Improvements in oral health standards also lead to improved nutrition; dental pain or tooth loss can limit food intake and lead to poor dietary choices, affecting overall health and development. Addressing oral health can improve social inclusion and psychological well-being through speech, appearance and self-esteem, contributing to overall human development.

Prioritising oral health as a strategic investment also pays dividends across the economic sector through reduced healthcare costs; preventative oral care can significantly reduce the need for costly emergency and rehabilitation treatments. It also increases productivity through reduced lost work days and a healthier workforce, leading to high economic performance. Through its interrelationship with other NCDs, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, improved oral health can potentially mitigate increased healthcare use and alleviate some of the burden on the already overburdened global healthcare system.

Re-evaluating and re-imagining the current dominant approach to oral health

However, until now, the broader approach to oral health care has been predominantly clinical, with minimal emphasis on prevention. This approach not only amplifies the health care burden, but also has a detrimental impact on people throughout their lives. A critical shift to a public health-focused approach, facilitated by well-conceived policies and robust strategy implementation, is therefore imperative.

While India has the opportunity and vision to develop and implement a world-class formal national oral health policy, its current 2017 national health policy only mentions oral health twice. This is an opportune time to transform the approach to oral health and devise an integrated health policy that realises its ambitions for quality of life, public health and social justice.

To achieve this, a policy review that integrates oral health into universal health coverage (including optimized intersectoral policies that prioritize preventive care throughout the lifespan across the spectrum of services needed for a healthy population) will be essential. To begin with, there is a need to redefine what is considered “essential health benefits” to include preventive oral health services. This redefinition would ensure that preventive dental care is a right for all, reducing socioeconomic disparities in access to these vital services and thus ensuring equitable health care.

Another key measure would be to make greater investments in preventive oral care and education. Focusing on early intervention and promoting good oral hygiene practices from childhood can reduce the long-term costs associated with treating advanced oral diseases. In this regard, India can adopt best practices from other Asian countries, such as the Philippines, which have mandated preventive oral health interventions in schools to drive improved oral health indices and positive learning outcomes. Schools would also need to integrate student health promotion activities into their curricula and learning practices, with a view to fostering better health through better schools.

There is also a need to foster stronger integration of oral health professionals into primary care. Dentists, dental hygienists and other oral health professionals should be part of interdisciplinary teams, working alongside physicians and community health workers to provide a holistic approach to health. Nurses are particularly well placed to provide essential primary preventive dental services from the outset and to maintain their consistent delivery. Studies have shown that the most effective approach to achieving this is to embed dental care in primary care settings for children, such as clinics where routine health checks and vaccinations are provided.

Last but not least, leveraging technology and innovation will play a key role in expanding access. In the context of oral health care, a public-private partnership can be a driving force to overcome gaps in oral health care service delivery. The public sector can offer incentives, such as subsidies and tax exemptions, or provide infrastructure and regulatory support, while the private sector can bring expertise, innovation in service delivery, efficiency, support, training and capacity-building initiatives for health care providers.

Integrating oral health into universal health coverage is more than a strategic health initiative – it is a transformative movement toward a future where comprehensive well-being is the cornerstone of social progress. By championing this cause, we not only improve individual quality of life, but also strengthen the foundations of public health, social justice and economic resilience. By committing to this vision, we pave the way for a legacy of lasting health, where every smile reflects the success of our collective effort and the promise of a healthier world for all.