Oral Health Care System Research Articles

Oral Health Status and Oral Healthcare System in Indonesia: A Narrative Review

Abstract Aim: To assess the current situation regarding oral health status and system in Indonesia through the existing literature and government documents, identify challenges, and propose recommendations for the future. Materials and Methods: A literature search was conducted from June to October 2023 through the scientific databases of PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, including published articles from 2013 to 2023. The following main keywords were used: “Indonesia,” “oral health system,” “oral healthcare system,” “oral health policy,” “oral health promotion,” “oral health coverage,” and “oral health status.” Articles without any restrictions on study design, review articles, regional or national oral health reports, and Indonesian health laws or regulations were included. Data extracted from the included studies were synthesized and presented into several subgroups. Results: Despite the establishment of a health system in 1982, the oral health status of Indonesian people remains unsatisfying. The prevalence of untreated caries and periodontal disease is still high. Several policies and programs have been implemented to tackle those problems; however, Indonesia still has many challenges to overcome, including geographic constraints, uneven distribution of dental personnel, low public awareness and information on oral care utilization, insufficient resource allocation, and lack of prevention and promotion programs. Conclusion: The oral health status of the Indonesian population remains unsatisfactory. Future actions should emphasize on equal access and distribution of dental care, strengthen monitoring and evaluation of ongoing programs, integrate oral health into the national health agenda, and allocate adequate resources to support oral health initiatives.

Is Trending Social Media Platforms a Newfangled Language of Oral Health Promotion? A Short Communication

Abstract The global oral healthcare system faces significant challenges, including disparities in access to services and facilities along with a widespread lack of awareness about different preventive measures. The phrase “social media” describes a wide range of online platforms and software that let users interact, share, communicate, and explore. A sizable number of people now use social media applications. It has long been used to increase public awareness of general health issues. It has also gained acceptance in the dental sector in the last few years. It has been widely used as a tool for teledentistry and to disseminate oral health knowledge and information. This study emphasizes different digital media tools that can raise comprehensive oral health knowledge and the benefits and drawbacks of doing so along with discussing the significance of social media in endorsing oral health awareness among the population.

The child dental care reform in Israel – service uptake from 2011 to 2022

BackgroundThe 2010 Child Dental Care Reform of the National Health Insurance Law marked a turning point in the Israeli oral healthcare system by establishing Universal Health Coverage of dental care for children. Initially, the reform included children up to age 8 and gradually expanded to age 18 in 2019. The basket of services includes preventive and restorative treatments provided by the four Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO). The aim of this study was to examine the uptake of child dental services during the first decade of the reform.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted to determine the treatment uptake, type and amount of the services delivered based on annual service utilization reports submitted by the HMOs to the Ministry of Health in the years 2011–2022.ResultsThe number of insured children increased from 1,546,857 in 2011 to 3,178,238 in 2022. The uptake of dental services gradually increased during the study period with a slight decrease in 2020. The percentage of children who used the services gradually increased from 8 to 33%, with the incremental inclusion of additional age groups. From 2012 onwards the most common treatments provided were preventive, however the single most common treatment was dental restoration. In 2022 35% of the population of Israel was under the age of 18. Out of these, about a third received dental treatment via the HMOs. This is a significant achievement, since before the reform all treatments were paid out-of-pocket. After a short period of increasing uptake, a stable service utilization pattern was evident that can indicate better public awareness and service acceptance.ConclusionAlthough this is a reasonable uptake, additional efforts are required to increase the number of children receiving dental care within the public insurance. Such an effort can be part of a multi-disciplinary approach, in which pediatricians and public health nurses can play a vital role in dental caries prevention, enhancement of awareness and service utilization.

A Tele-detection and referral pAthways model for early childhood cariEs control- a protocol for a randomized factorial study: the TRACE study

BackgroundEarly childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most common childhood diseases affecting the primary teeth of children younger than 6 years of age. ECC progression can be reversed in the early stages although these lesions often go undetected. New approaches are needed to detect oral diseases at an early stage when they can be better controlled. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of ECC tele-detection methods combined with referral pathways with and without user fee removal in controlling ECC.MethodsA randomized factorial trial will be used to compare two tele-dentistry detection methods for ECC (intraoral camera and smartphone camera) and two referral pathways (user fee removal versus conventional care). The study will recruit children younger than 6 years of age in marginalized communities in Alexandria, Egypt. The primary outcome is the percentage of teeth receiving indicated care, while the secondary outcomes are the oral health-related quality of life, acceptance of teledentistry by dentists, procedure time, and child cooperation. Two-way analysis of variance will be used to assess the effect of the two factors as between group variables on the outcomes after 6 and 12 months. The interaction between detection methods and referral pathways will also be assessed, and the effect of confounders will be controlled in a multivariable linear regression model.DiscussionThe findings of this study have the potential to inform clinical practice and oral healthcare policies for ECC management. Successful tele-detection and referral pathways could be integrated into oral healthcare systems, leading to improved oral health outcomes for children.Trial registrationThe trial has been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov in August 2023 (initial release) ID: NCT06019884.

The oral health care system in Libya: a case study

BackgroundThis study aims to describe the Libyan oral health care system in terms of its structure, function, workforce, funding, reimbursement and target groups.MethodsA single descriptive case study approach and multiple sources of data collection were used to provide an in-depth understanding of the Libyan oral health care system. A purposeful sample of the key informants (Managers of oral health centers, dentists of various specialties with experience in the field, dentists, nurses, dental technicians, and officials in the affairs of medical insurance) was recruited. The case and its boundaries were guided by the study’s aim. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted. Descriptive statistics were used for quantitative data. Framework analysis, informed by the study objectives, was used to analyze interviews and documents.ResultsThe analysis showed that oral health services are integrated into medical services. The provision of dental care is mainly treatment-based, in the private sector. The oral health services in the public sector are mainly emergency care and exodontia. The dental workforce included in the study were mostly dentists (89% General Dental Practitioners (GDPs), 11% specialists), with a marked deficiency in dental technicians and nurses. Around 40% of dentists work in both the private and public sectors. The government provides the funding for the public sector, but the private sector is self-funded. No specific target group(s) nor clear policies were reported. However, the system is built around primary health care as an overarching policy. Dental caries is the most common oral problem among Libyan preschool children affecting around 70% and is the most common cause of tooth loss among adults.ConclusionThe oral health care system in Libya is mainly privatized. The public health services are poorly organized and malfunctioning. There is an urgent need to develop policies and plans to improve the oral health care system in Libya.

Employment Preferences and Self-Perceived Confidence of House-Officers across Dental Teaching Institutions of Lahore

Introduction: Despite progressive statistics, the oral healthcare system suffers from an unevenly distributed workforce, lack of infrastructure, and reduced quality of dental education. As a result, dental graduates have decreased job satisfaction and limited career prospects. This article assesses the perceptions of dental graduates regarding their workforce skills, abilities, and employment preferences. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study targeting House-Officers from various randomly selected dental teaching institutes of Lahore. The study tool was a modified version of the questionnaire used by Manakil and George [13] and assessed the perceptions of dental graduates regarding their workforce skills and preferences. This study aimed to evaluate self-perceived confidence of new dental graduates, and investigate the relationship between gender perceptions. Results: The sample size was of 256 House- Officers. Most participants were confident in their skills and abilities with 167 (65.4%) individuals confident in workforce integration, 166 (64.8%) confident in their patient management skills, 154(60.2%) confident in their interpersonal skills and 163 (63.7%) confident in their leadership abilities. Mentorship was considered to be crucial by 207 (80.9%) individuals. Two hundred and thirty-three (91%) individuals were willing for an additional year of internship and 174 (68%) participants chose a city-based employment. The government sector was the most preferred for employment by 122 (47.7%) individuals whereas research was least preferred. Conclusion: It is imperative that career development and mentorship programs are put into practice, incentives are provided to work in rural areas and research culture is promoted.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of caries prevention in children among Bhutanese oral health professionals.

Dental caries remains prevalent among children in Bhutan, despite an increasing number of oral health professionals (OHPs). Insights into caries preventive practices among OHPs can identify areas for capacity building. This cross-sectional descriptive study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice of caries prevention in children among OHPs in Bhutan. A self-administered online questionnaire was sent to all active registered OHPs. The respondents included 73 dentists and 61 dental hygienists (88% response rate) with a mean experience of 8.4 ± 7.1 years. Many practitioners rarely saw children; most of them, however, exhibited a positive attitude towards caries prevention in children, yet lacked knowledge and practice, especially in younger children. Caries risk factors were not all recognized, and assessment was not practised. Many forms of fluoride were available, but their efficacy was underestimated. Fluoridated toothpaste was underutilized in younger children. Preventive practice relied mainly on giving advice. The most common limitations on preventive practice were the unavailability of materials and treatment prioritized over prevention. Caries prevention in Bhutanese children requires a systematic approach in the oral healthcare system and further education of OHPs. Proactive strategies, time management and efficient distribution of preventive materials could promote better practice.

Exploring environmental sustainability in dentistry among students and educators in the United Arab Emirates: a cross-sectional survey

ObjectivesCreating environmentally sustainable healthcare culture within the dental field requires embedding the content in the dental curriculum at the undergraduate level. This study aimed to explore the current awareness and drivers among dental students and educators regarding environmentally sustainable dentistry (ESD) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and identify barriers and enablers to embrace it.MethodsA cross-sectional survey using online questionnaires was carried out in six undergraduate dental education institutes within the UAE. Data analysis included descriptive statistics.ResultsIn total 153 students and 53 educators participated in the survey. Most students and educators were not aware of any ESD content in their curricula. However, the majority of educators were familiar with the concept of ESD, while students were mostly unfamiliar or slightly familiar. Nonetheless, students largely agreed on its importance and their interest in learning it, as they viewed it relevant to their future practice. Educators agreed that the dental profession has a responsibility to be environmentally friendly and expressed their desire in introducing ESD content into the curricula. Several barriers were reported such as lack of knowledge, curricula space, educational resources, and time. Meanwhile, enablers included providing ESD capacity building, training and resources.ConclusionsThere was no explicit presence of ESD content in the dental curricula in the UAE. Despite the lack of adequate awareness on this topic among educators and more so among students, they both had positive views towards incorporating ESD into dental curricula. Overall, this study highlighted the importance of promoting ESD in dental programs. Clinical significance: ESD is gradually becoming a critical aspect of modern oral healthcare system. It has been mandated in the dental curricula in several regions globally. Embedding ESD in the UAE dental curricula would have several benefits for the environment as well as the future of the dental profession in the region. The clinical significance includes, but not limited to, improved treatment outcomes; patients, students and staff health and well-being; reduced health risks, and cost savings.

Oral Health in the State of Kuwait: An Appraisal

BackgroundOral health issues have received significant attention from most global health agencies, which have integrated these issues into their noncommunicable disease, sustainable development, and universal health coverage objectives. MethodsThis paper provides an update on the progress made in the last 2 decades and aims to highlight some of the challenges faced by the oral health care system in Kuwait. ResultsDespite the nation's rising expenditure on oral health care, the prevalence of oral diseases remains high in Kuwait. The lack of reliable data on periodontitis and edentulism limits the ability of researchers to comment on the trends of these conditions. This emphasises the critical need for a nationwide household-level oral health survey in both pediatric and adult populations that would provide valuable information on the oral health status of these populations. ConclusionIn the future, Kuwait must invest more in oral disease prevention programs, especially among children and the high-risk communities of the population.

Adolescents' views on oral health care and promotion in Norway: everyday practices, recommendations, and future visions.

In this study, we aimed to understand adolescents' perspectives on oral health care and promotion. Our research was conducted in the context of Norway's oral health care system, where societal factors like income and education influence health disparities. Despite free public dental care for all residents younger than 19 years, challenges persist in promoting oral health among adolescents, a group whose oral health behavior and literacy remain largely unexplored. A thematic analysis of an anonymized dataset from 80 adolescents aged 12-20 years was conducted. Five central themes were recognized: (1) Feeling fresh vs. feeling indifferent: A broad spectrum of attitudes; (2) Bridging gaps, building habits: Collaborative efforts in oral care; (3) "Create good experiences at the dentist so people come back again"; (4) Requested qualities in oral health promoting solutions; (5) Reminder tools for everyday use. Taken together, these themes highlight adolescents' oral health practices and resources, recommendations for dental clinics, and visions for future oral health promotion. Based on the results, the discussion highlights a need for tailored oral health promotion and ideas to reach adolescents in meaningful and effective ways. Reflections on the theme of social inequalities are provided.

The employment of dental hygienists in European countries: Report of a European Dental Hygienists Federation/European Association of Dental Public Health Survey in 2021.

This survey aimed to investigate a range of topics relating to the employment of dental hygienists in European countries, whose National Dental Hygienists Associations (NDHAs) were members of the EDHF. During 2020/2021, an online questionnaire and participant information leaflet were distributed by email in each of the 24 countries, whose NDHA is a member of the EFDH or to an EADPH member who was likely to respond. The broad term employment of dental hygienists was taken to include current numbers, place of work (public or private clinics and other locations), whether they were currently working as dental hygienists, their pay, any planned changes in their employment and their participation in continuing education. Twenty-four countries (92%) responded. Hungary and Poland reported that fewer than 35% of their qualified dental hygienists were working as dental hygienists. In 10 countries, often for family reasons, over 40% worked part-time. In 14 countries, over 70% worked in private clinics. Average annual pay ranged from €8400 in public clinics in Poland to €106,000 in dental hygienist-owned clinics in Denmark Regular participation in continuing education was mandatory in only nine countries. Dental hygienists play a different role within the oral healthcare system in each European country. There is a wide variation in their education, places of employment, annual pay and continuing education requirements.

Knowledge and attitude of Iranian dental practitioners toward teledentistry: A web-based descriptive survey.

It is necessary to improve the knowledge and attitude of dental practitioners toward teledentistry for its implementation in the oral healthcare system. The objective of the current study was to investigate the knowledge and attitude of Iranian dental practitioners toward teledentistry. This descriptive, cross-sectional survey was performed among 387 dental practitioners working in two big cities in Iran. An online self-structured questionnaire that included 34 questions was applied to collect information about the general profile of participants (age, sex, work experience, city of work, and dental specialty), their knowledge, and attitude about teledentistry. Most participants were males (57.9%) and general practitioners (79.6%). Dental practitioners expressed poor knowledge and only 23.50% of them were familiar with teledentistry. However, most of the participants, mainly in Zahedan city, expressed agreement on the potential benefits of teledentistry for patient care and access. More than 80% of dental practitioners agreed with the statement on the application of teledentistry in enhancing access to guidelines, recommendations, and preventive dentistry. However, the majority of dental practitioners believe that the diagnosis by teledentistry is not as accurate as the diagnosis in clinical practice. Our study reveals a positive attitude toward teledentistry among Iranian dentists with a significant knowledge gap. This knowledge gap may be a barrier to teledentistry adoption. Educational programs tailored to address these knowledge gaps are necessary to pave the way for the successful integration of teledentistry into routine dental practice.

Dentists' perspectives on structural and system barriers hindering oral healthcare provision in residential care facilities.

Oral healthcare service is not well integrated with existing healthcare policy in nursing homes (NHs) globally. This qualitative study aimed to identify dentists' perspectives on structural and system barriers that hinder oral healthcare (OHC) provision to seniors in NHs in Singapore and to understand the consequences of these barriers. Nineteen dentists (8 males and 11 females, 36.0 [IQR: 32.0-48.5] years old) were recruited through combination of purposive and snowball sampling. Four focus group discussions were conducted via teleconferencing, and each discussion had 4-5 anonymised participants. Sessions lasted 90-120 min and were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was conducted on data collected using NVivo software (Version12, QRS International). Participants agreed that the current OHC system for seniors in NHs is not well developed. The challenges dentists faced were categorised in three themes: [1] general oral healthcare system level; [2] local nursing home setting level; and [3] geriatric oral healthcare education level. These challenges are complexly intertwined and have contributed to several consequences such as a shortage of dentists in NHs and their diminished motivation to serve. It has also limited the quality of dental service they are able to provide in NHs, contributing to the current poor access of dental services for seniors in NHs. Dentists in Singapore face many structural and systemic barriers in providing OHC to seniors in NHs, some of which are unique to the local context. Newfound understanding of these barriers and its consequences will be helpful in developing strategic approaches to overcome these challenges.

The current state of oral health and dental care system efficiency in twelve selected East European countries

Objective: This investigation aims to highlight the often-overlooked landscape of oral care in East European countries by evaluating the dental status of their populations and the efficiency of their dental care systems. Method: The study employs the Dental Health Index (DHI), which measures the dental state of entire populations, allowing for quantifiable comparisons between differing countries and dental systems. The survey relies solely on existing epidemiological and various scientific data. Results: The findings reveal a wide range of results among the countries studied. On average, the oral health of the younger generation is satisfactory and has improved over the past two decades, with more significant progress observed in permanent teeth compared to deciduous teeth. However, the dental status of adults remains poor, with only a few signs of positive developments in the past decade. The most favourable DHIs are seen among Romanian and Serbian individuals, while Lithuanian and Bulgarian citizens exhibit a less favourable oral health status. Notably, the latter two countries have the highest dental density of those studied. In terms of benefit-cost reflections, Romania, Serbia and Poland perform best. Estonia and Lithuania appear to have untapped productivity resources. Conclusion: To enhance the overall oral health status of the population, the author advocates for a broader focus that extends the current prioritization of the young generation to include adults up to 35 years of age, as the period between 18 and 35 years significantly influences the future development of natural teeth. To implement effective measures for this reform, oral health policies must prioritize prevention and tooth retention. Suggestions are provided on how this could be achieved. An active, goal-oriented oral health policy is essential, for improving the currently unsatisfactory oral health status of adults. Without such efforts, the dental health of the elderly population is likely to deteriorate further.

Oral health in lower middle-income African societies - surprising outcomes and strategic consequences

Objective: To assess the oral health status of the population in selected African countries and compare the outcomes with emerging and highly developed countries worldwide using quantifiable results. Method: By means of a composite indicator - the Dental Health Index (DHI) - the dental status of a country´s entire population is measured to arrive at a ranking of oral health performance. This performance is then compared with countries belonging to other development stages. The present study is descriptive and, whenever possible, uses existing epidemiological data from national representative surveys. Results: With the exception of Rwanda, the Sub-Saharan African countries performed better than the three North African countries of Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, although the Arabic-speaking countries have higher Human Development Indices by comparison. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, the best rankings were achieved by Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria. However, the other Sub-Saharan countries studied also exhibited similarly low DHIs. Rwanda, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco ranked last. One striking finding is that the Sub-Saharan countries studied show more favourable DHI outcomes than emerging or high-income countries. As large parts of the African population have been widely untouched for decades by dental services, the relatively favourable outcomes in African societies are difficult to explain and contradict conventional dental theory. The reasons behind this finding are not fully understood. It is only in the area of untreated oral diseases that the African countries perform much worse than the more developed countries. Conclusion: If African countries were to concentrate their scarce resources on a few vital segments of oral health, they would have the opportunity, in light of favourable morbidity structures, to gradually improve the oral health status of large parts of the population. Should they choose this route, priority should be given to the young generation. Three key action fields are decisive: mobilising oral self-care, enlarging the dental workforce by training sufficient mid-level personnel and creating a true primary oral health care system which is community-centred and complemented by strictly preventive, minimally invasive and tooth-retaining treatments under the guidance of a strong public sector.

The oral health landscape in Singapore: A commentary on key features, challenges and future policies.

Over the last decade, Singapore has grappled with substantial healthcare challenges, chiefly a bourgeoning aging population and a mounting burden of chronic diseases. The oral health landscape has also changed, with the Ministry of Health placing a greater focus on a life-course approach supported by policies that facilitate Singaporeans to receive dental care appropriately and affordably. A pivotal oral health policy is the National Dental Strategy, a comprehensive framework governing dental services in the public sector. This strategy encompasses aspects such as financing, workforce management, and capacity considerations. To facilitate affordability and accessibility to dental services in the public sector, the government extends subsidies to reduce out-of-pocket costs. Those attending private dental clinics also benefit from the Community Health Assist Scheme, introduced in 2012, which alleviates treatment costs for enrolled Singaporeans. Furthermore, additional age-banded subsidies have been introduced for older Singaporeans born before 1960, enhancing financial support when accessing dental services in both private and public sectors. In 2019, a national adult oral health survey was commissioned to gauge the oral health status of Singaporeans aged 21 and above. The findings reported 34.8% having untreated dental caries, and 15.7% and 41.2% experiencing moderate and severe periodontitis, respectively. While over half (53.9%) of respondents visited the dentist at least annually, about 60% of eligible individuals did not utilize their government dental subsidies. In response, the Ministry of Health is committed to strengthening oral disease prevention, integrating oral health into general healthcare services, expanding dental financing schemes to enhance service utilization, improving the quality and transparency of dental care, and leveraging advancements in tele-dentistry and other modes of dental services. It is imperative to adapt Singapore's oral health policies and service delivery models to meet the evolving needs of the population and ensure a sustainable, equitable and resilient oral healthcare system.

Evidence pertaining to modifiable risk factors for oral diseases: an umbrella review to Inform oral health messages for Australia.

The aim of this umbrella review was to collate and appraise the evidence base regarding modifiable risk factors for the prevention of oral diseases to inform the update of the Oral Health Messages for Australia. Eleven questions related to modifiable risk factors and dental disease were investigated. Electronic databases (Medline, Embase and PubMed) were searched from January 2010 to October 2022. Systematic reviews evaluating interventions/exposures in healthy subjects from high-income countries, where Westernized practices, oral health promotion and healthcare systems are similar to Australia, were included. Quality appraisal of included systematic reviews was guided by the AMSTAR tool. Of the 3637 articles identified, 29 articles met eligibility criteria. High-quality systematic reviews were identified for questions relating to diet, infant feeding, dental check-ups and oral hygiene. Free sugars consumption above 5% of energy intake, infrequent toothbrushing, smoking/vaping and alcohol intake were consistently associated with poorer oral health outcomes. Breastfeeding up to the age of 24 months was not associated with an increased risk of early childhood caries. The use of interdental cleaning devices and mouthguards during contact sports are likely to be effective in preventing dental disease.

Trajtimi atraumatik restaurues në stomatologjinë e fëmijëve

Dental caries is one of the most prevalent multifactorial diseases in the world. In the field of dental caries manage- ment, Atraumatic Restorative Treatment is known as a minimal intervention and minimally invasive procedure and has shown to be successful in both, developed and devel- oping countries. The Atraumatic Restorative Treatment is the technique that involves removing carious tooth tissues using hand instruments only, without the use of anesthesia and electrically-driven equipment and restoring the cavity with adhesive restorative material usually a high-viscosity glass-ionomer cement. The Atraumatic Restorative Treat- ment in the single-surface restorations presented high sur- vival percentages in both primary and permanent posterior teeth, while in the multiple-surface restorations presented lower survival percentages. Researchers should focus on im- proving the materials of atraumatic restorative treatment restoration, extending the knowledge of the technique in association with pain and anxiety and encouraging the use of this approach in national oral health care systems.

Dental Health Services Victoria value-based health care principles for oral health models of care.

Efforts to progress oral healthcare reform can be challenging with competing interests of governments and service providers to achieve the intended outcomes. The value-based health care approach has been adopted in many areas of healthcare but has had limited applications to oral healthcare systems. Dental Health Services Victoria, an Australian state government funded entity, commenced its journey to value-based health care in 2016, to shift away from traditional dental service models that reward activity and volume towards a stronger emphasis on value and outcomes. To maintain the value-based health care agenda focus, Dental Health Services Victoria developed three key principles, which can be adopted by other organisations engaged in reforming oral healthcare, to improve the oral health for the population it serves. In 2018, Dental Health Services Victoria developed a value-based health care framework, which has informed strategic organisation priorities for action. In 2023, the following three key principles are identified as being essential to support the operationalisation and development of effective models of oral healthcare: Principle 1 - Care is co-designed with the person or population Principle 2 - Prevention and early intervention are prioritised. Principle 3 - Consistent measurement of health outcomes and costs are embedded. The exploration of the three key principles is an important communication tool to translate value-based health care into practice with key stakeholders. Further work is required to socialise them to within dental teams. Organisations looking to commence the value-based health care agenda can apply Dental Health Services Victoria's three key principles as a first step.

Oral and craniofacial research in the Generation R study: an executive summary

ObjectivesOral conditions are of high prevalence and chronic character within the general population. Identifying the risk factors and determinants of oral disease is important, not only to reduce the burden of oral diseases, but also to improve (equal access to) oral health care systems, and to develop effective oral health promotion programs. Longitudinal population-based (birth-)cohort studies are very suitable to study risk factors on common oral diseases and have the potential to emphasize the importance of a healthy start for oral health. In this paper, we provide an overview of the comprehensive oral and craniofacial dataset that has been collected in the Generation R study: a population-based prospective birth cohort in the Netherlands that was designed to identify causes of health from fetal life until adulthood.MethodsWithin the multidisciplinary context of the Generation R study, oral and craniofacial data has been collected from the age of 3 years onwards, and continued at the age of six, nine, and thirteen. Data collection is continuing in 17-year-old participants.Research outcomesIn total, the cohort population comprised 9749 children at birth, and 7405 eligible participants at the age of seventeen. Based on questionnaires, the dataset contains information on oral hygiene, dental visits, oral habits, oral health–related quality of life, orthodontic treatment, and obstructive sleep apnea. Based on direct measurements, the dataset contains information on dental caries, developmental defects of enamel, objective orthodontic treatment need, dental development, craniofacial characteristics, mandibular cortical thickness, and 3D facial measurements.ConclusionsSeveral research lines have been set up using the oral and craniofacial data linked with the extensive data collection that exists within the Generation R study.Clinical relevanceBeing embedded in a multidisciplinary and longitudinal birth cohort study allows researchers to study several determinants of oral and craniofacial health, and to provide answers and insight into unknown etiologies and oral health problems in the general population.