TY - JOUR
AU - W. Usmani
AU - C. Park
AU - S. Ogato
AU - M. Raymond
AU - M. P. de Courten
AU - P. W. Lange
AU - F. Hanna
A1 - 
AB - BACKGROUND: Poor oral health is associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), largely due to shared risk factors such as smoking, diabetes and socioeconomic disadvantage. Integrating oral health into primary and specialist care, particularly cardiac services, presents a promising strategy to improve early detection of oral diseases and related health outcomes. This systematic review examines oral health strategies implemented in primary and cardiovascular care settings, focusing on their impact on oral and CVD indicators, service delivery and medical-dental collaboration. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Manual for Evidence Synthesis and reported following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, with the protocol registered in PROSPERO. Peer-reviewed studies were systematically searched across major databases. Guided by the PICO framework, data were extracted on populations, interventions, settings and outcomes. Study quality was assessed using JBI and Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool criteria, and findings were synthesised using narrative and thematic analysis. RESULTS: Evidence from 17 studies highlight key integration strategies: (1) medical-dental collaboration through interdisciplinary care and co-location; (2) implementing oral health screening in non-dental settings; (3) non-dental teams providing oral health education and preventive care and (4) upskilling non-dental providers. Reported outcomes included improved oral health access, earlier detection of oral disease, enhanced provider confidence, increased chronic disease screening in dental settings and improved CVD markers. CONCLUSION: Integrated care models can bridge the oral-CVD care divide, improving equity and outcomes. However, sustainable implementation will require policy support, workforce training and evaluation of long-term cost-effectiveness and impact. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251113478, PROSPERO CRD420251113478.
AD - Department of Health and Education, Torrens University Australia, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.; Department of Public Health, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States.; Department of Public Health, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.; Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.; Werribee Mercy Hospital, Werribee, VIC, Australia.
AN - 42163909
BT - Front Public Health
C5 - Education & Workforce
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1795955
DP - NLM
ET - 20260505
JF - Front Public Health
LA - eng
N2 - BACKGROUND: Poor oral health is associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), largely due to shared risk factors such as smoking, diabetes and socioeconomic disadvantage. Integrating oral health into primary and specialist care, particularly cardiac services, presents a promising strategy to improve early detection of oral diseases and related health outcomes. This systematic review examines oral health strategies implemented in primary and cardiovascular care settings, focusing on their impact on oral and CVD indicators, service delivery and medical-dental collaboration. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Manual for Evidence Synthesis and reported following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, with the protocol registered in PROSPERO. Peer-reviewed studies were systematically searched across major databases. Guided by the PICO framework, data were extracted on populations, interventions, settings and outcomes. Study quality was assessed using JBI and Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool criteria, and findings were synthesised using narrative and thematic analysis. RESULTS: Evidence from 17 studies highlight key integration strategies: (1) medical-dental collaboration through interdisciplinary care and co-location; (2) implementing oral health screening in non-dental settings; (3) non-dental teams providing oral health education and preventive care and (4) upskilling non-dental providers. Reported outcomes included improved oral health access, earlier detection of oral disease, enhanced provider confidence, increased chronic disease screening in dental settings and improved CVD markers. CONCLUSION: Integrated care models can bridge the oral-CVD care divide, improving equity and outcomes. However, sustainable implementation will require policy support, workforce training and evaluation of long-term cost-effectiveness and impact. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251113478, PROSPERO CRD420251113478.
PY - 2026
SN - 2296-2565
SP - 1795955
ST - Breaking the silos: a systematic review of oral health integration strategies for improved oral health and cardiovascular outcomes
T1 - Breaking the silos: a systematic review of oral health integration strategies for improved oral health and cardiovascular outcomes
T2 - Front Public Health
TI - Breaking the silos: a systematic review of oral health integration strategies for improved oral health and cardiovascular outcomes
U1 - Education & Workforce
U3 - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1795955
VL - 14
VO - 2296-2565
Y1 - 2026
ER -