Review examines forces shaping oral health care by 2035, suggesting pathways for equitable, connected care.
Key Points
The review aims to explore the macro- and meso-forces influencing dentistry's role in population health over the next decade.
Conducted a structured narrative synthesis of peer-reviewed literature and policy documents from 2015 to 2025.
Performed searches in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for sources on public-health integration and workforce transformation.
Included grey literature from WHO, FDI, OECD to gather insights on real-world adoption signals.
Identified three primary forces driving dentistry's evolution: integration into public health policy, digital workforce transformation, and fiscal realignment for efficiency.
Highlighted emerging trends in digital technology adoption, cultural shifts towards transparency, and educational reforms in data literacy.
Described a future oral-health ecosystem characterized by interoperability and predictive analytics.