Ethnic inequalities in oral health within the United Kingdom: a scoping review

Background There are documented health inequalities between ethnic groups in the United Kingdom (UK). However, the evidence regarding ethnic inequalities in oral health is limited and not synthesised.Aim This scoping review aimed to provide an overview of UK ethnic oral health inequalities.Methods A search was conducted using Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, PubMed, and Cochrane. After identification and screening, extracted studies were categorised according to clinical, subjective, and oral health behaviour/service-related outcomes.Results In total, 44 articles were included. Compared to their white counterparts, caries levels were higher among Asian children and oral and pharyngeal cancers rates were higher among Asian women, while lower rates of tooth loss and edentulousness were found among most minority ethnic groups, except for Black adults, who had higher rates. Limited evidence suggests a higher likelihood of poor self-rated oral health among minority ethnic groups, compared to the white majority adult population. The patterns of ethnic oral health inequalities were heterogenous and inconsistent across most other outcomes.Conclusions There is evidence of ethnic inequalities in oral health within the UK, largely based on limited data from England. This review highlights the need for more robust, large-scale research to broaden understanding and help shape policies to address these inequalities.