Oral health services provided for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia: a scoping review

Objective The shortage of oral health professionals in rural and remote regions of Australia directly impacts the access to oral health services for people who live in these regions, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This scoping review aims to explore where and how these services are provided for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the relevant workforce model used. Methods Electronic databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, and CINAHL, were searched. Grey literature searches included the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet webpage, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and Advanced Google search. Results Oral health services were classified into the following categories: (1) clinical oral health services, (2) oral health promotion to improve oral health awareness, knowledge, attitudes, behaviours, or skills at patient/community level, and (3) oral health promotion including the use of single clinical interventions (e.g. fluoride varnish). Services were delivered in a variety of settings including community health clinics and schools or using mobile dental equipment. Both the dental and non-dental workforce were utilised to provide these services. Limited data were found on the experiences and challenges faced by the workforce that provide these services. Conclusion Oral health services provided for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in rural and remote regions of Australia vary in service type, location, and workforce involved. Future research is required to explore the experiences and support of this workforce. This can enhance delivery of culturally and clinically safe oral health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly in rural and remote regions.