Equity by Design: Redefining the Architecture of Dental Research in a Global Context

There are significant numbers of people who suffer from oral diseases worldwide; however, dental research remains behind in embracing health equity principles in its practices. Health equity means the existence of a fair and just lack of difference in health status between populations and opportunities for all people to achieve the maximum degree of health possible. Besides being an ethical issue, health equity is also a necessity to guarantee the objectivity, inclusion, and relevance of scientific research. This narrative literature review seeks to discuss the need for health equity to be included at all stages of dental research. Hypothesis formation, study design, research practice, data analysis, and dissemination of results are the topics discussed in the review. The global impact of diseases of the mouth on public health will be described, as well as the factors behind the disparity of oral health status around the world. Also, the existence of epistemological issues within the methodology used for dental research will be highlighted, possibly leading to biased and non-inclusive scientific knowledge creation. Finally, new perspectives and methodologies are introduced, allowing researchers to rethink dental research and adapt it to society's needs.