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Policy Interventions to Prevent Periodontal Disease in Rural India: A Scoping Review
Nandini Nagpal1, Neetha J Shetty1, Shruti Singh1
1Department of Periodontology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India, manipal.edu.
International Journal of Dentistry
|July 17, 2026
Summary
Periodontal disease prevention in rural India shows short-term gains via education and outreach. However, long-term policy effectiveness and cost-effectiveness data are limited, necessitating better integration into primary care.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Oral Health
- Health Policy
Background:
- Periodontal diseases are a significant public health issue, especially in rural areas with limited dental care access.
- Existing periodontal disease prevention policies in rural health centers lack comprehensive effectiveness mapping.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically map and evaluate the evidence on the effectiveness of periodontal disease prevention policies implemented in rural health centers.
Main Methods:
- Scoping review adhering to Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
- Searched PubMed, Scopus, and Embase for studies on periodontal disease prevention policies in rural settings.
- Narrative synthesis of data from 19 included studies.
Main Results:
- Most studies focused on community-based oral health education, frontline health worker training, screening, and outreach in rural India.
- Short-term improvements observed in oral health knowledge, hygiene practices, plaque levels, and community engagement.
- Limited evidence on long-term periodontal outcomes, policy implementation, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- Community-based programs show short-term benefits for oral health in rural India.
- Significant gaps exist in evidence regarding long-term policy effectiveness, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
- Recommends integrating periodontal disease prevention into primary healthcare, enhancing community health worker capacity, and developing robust policy evaluation frameworks.
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