Oral health in children is intimately connected to their overall health and development. Increasing evidence points to strong associations between pediatric oral diseases - such as early childhood caries and periodontal conditions - and broader systemic issues, including nutritional imbalances, impaired growth, respiratory infections, congenital anomalies, certain cancers, and mental health disorders. However, children’s oral health assessments and interventions are often siloed from general pediatric healthcare, leading to missed opportunities for prevention, early detection, and holistic management.
This Research Topic aims to advance understanding and practice by promoting the integration of pediatric oral health within general pediatric healthcare and public health systems. Our specific focus is to highlight innovative research and clinical models that address the unique challenges and solutions for children’s oral-systemic health.
We invite a wide range of scientific contributions, including original research articles (laboratory studies, clinical investigations, translational research, and case reports), systematic reviews, policy analyses, and commentaries. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Mechanisms linking pediatric oral and systemic health
• Clinical care models that bridge dentistry and pediatrics
• Interdisciplinary collaboration between pediatric dentists, pediatricians, and allied professionals
• Impact of nutrition on oral and overall health in children
• Applications of digital health tools and integrated health records for coordinated pediatric care
• Public health strategies to promote oral-systemic health in children, including school-based programs
• Evaluations of access, equity, and cost-effectiveness of integrated pediatric oral health services
By uniting scientific and clinical perspectives, this collection aims to inform clinicians, researchers, educators, and policymakers in advancing integrated pediatric care.
Oral health in children is intimately connected to their overall health and development. Increasing evidence points to strong associations between pediatric oral diseases - such as early childhood caries and periodontal conditions - and broader systemic issues, including nutritional imbalances, impaired growth, respiratory infections, congenital anomalies, certain cancers, and mental health disorders. However, children’s oral health assessments and interventions are often siloed from general pediatric healthcare, leading to missed opportunities for prevention, early detection, and holistic management.
This Research Topic aims to advance understanding and practice by promoting the integration of pediatric oral health within general pediatric healthcare and public health systems. Our specific focus is to highlight innovative research and clinical models that address the unique challenges and solutions for children’s oral-systemic health.
We invite a wide range of scientific contributions, including original research articles (laboratory studies, clinical investigations, translational research, and case reports), systematic reviews, policy analyses, and commentaries. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Mechanisms linking pediatric oral and systemic health
• Clinical care models that bridge dentistry and pediatrics
• Interdisciplinary collaboration between pediatric dentists, pediatricians, and allied professionals
• Impact of nutrition on oral and overall health in children
• Applications of digital health tools and integrated health records for coordinated pediatric care
• Public health strategies to promote oral-systemic health in children, including school-based programs
• Evaluations of access, equity, and cost-effectiveness of integrated pediatric oral health services
By uniting scientific and clinical perspectives, this collection aims to inform clinicians, researchers, educators, and policymakers in advancing integrated pediatric care.