Interprofessional oral health promotion in rural primary healthcare systems: a scoping review.
TL;DR
It is indicated that IOHPIs are more likely to remain sustainable when preventive activities are firmly integrated into routine PHC systems and supported by shared workforce roles, local contextual adaptation, and enabling organisational processes.
Abstract
Objectives This scoping review aimed to examine the literature on the design, integration, adaptation, and sustainability of interprofessional oral health promotion interventions (IOHPIs) within rural primary healthcare (PHC) systems. Methods A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Five databases (EBSCOhost, MEDLINE, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Wiley Online Library) and manual search were used to identify peer-reviewed articles published in English between January 2016 and February 2026. Studies were eligible if they described IOHPIs that had been implemented within rural PHC systems. Two reviewers independently screened records to ensure rigour and charted them across seven a priori domains: interprofessional model, workforce strategy, implementation, PHC integration, contextual adaptation, sustainability, and outcomes. Results Of 2,899 records, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. Eleven were conducted in high-income countries, while one originated from a low- and middle-income country. Four models of integration were identified: (1) clinic-embedded medical-dental integration, (2) public-service-hub integration, (3) Indigenous community-governed integration, and (4) telehealth-enabled outreach. In these models, preventive responsibilities were shared among multidisciplinary PHC teams, including nurses, community and Aboriginal health workers, hygienists, and therapists, under structured supervision. Outcomes were grouped into service access, preventive delivery, and implementation. Sustainability relied more on structural integration within workflows, financing, and governance than on clinical intent. Conclusion The review indicates that IOHPIs are more likely to remain sustainable when preventive activities are firmly integrated into routine PHC systems and supported by shared workforce roles, local contextual adaptation, and enabling organisational processes. However, the evidence base remains small, geographically concentrated, and limited in terms of long-term, economic, and equity-oriented evaluation, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Further implementation research is needed to determine whether these models can be sustained and scaled in diverse rural and low-resource settings.