Population aging represents one of the most significant demographic transformations of our time, with profound implications for health systems worldwide. Oral health in older adults extends beyond the traditional focus on disease prevention to encompass broader concerns about functional capacity, nutritional adequacy, and overall well-being. The cumulative burden of oral conditions, particularly tooth loss and periodontal disease, disproportionately affects older populations and intersects with systemic health outcomes including frailty, multimorbidity, and cognitive decline. Furthermore, substantial inequalities persist across socioeconomic, geographic, and ethnic dimensions, reflecting differential exposure to risk factors and access to preventive and restorative care throughout the life course. Understanding these complex relationships requires an integrated approach that bridges clinical dentistry, gerontology, nutrition science, and public health.

This Research Topic aims to advance knowledge on the multifaceted relationships between oral health, aging processes, and health inequalities, with particular emphasis on functional and quality of life outcomes in older adults. We seek to address critical gaps in understanding how oral conditions influence nutritional intake, physical function, and psychosocial well-being in later life. Recent epidemiological studies have demonstrated strong associations between oral health status and frailty phenotypes, yet the mechanisms underlying these relationships remain incompletely understood. Similarly, emerging evidence suggests that social determinants of health shape oral health trajectories across the life course, producing disparities that widen in older age. This collection welcomes research that elucidates biological, behavioral, and structural pathways linking oral health to healthy aging, as well as studies evaluating innovative models of care delivery, preventive strategies, and policy interventions designed to reduce inequalities and promote optimal oral health and function in aging populations.

This Research Topic invites papers addressing:
• Epidemiology of oral conditions in aging populations
• Mechanistic studies exploring links between tooth loss, masticatory function, dietary quality, and systemic health outcomes such as frailty and multimorbidity
• Investigations of social and structural determinants that generate oral health inequalities among older adults
• Evaluations of public health strategies and models of care targeting older populations
• Research examining clinical, functional, and psychosocial dimensions of oral health in later life

We particularly encourage submissions that adopt interdisciplinary approaches, incorporate life-course perspectives, address health equity, or evaluate translational interventions.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Oral Health, Aging, and Inequalities: Functional Outcomes, Nutrition, and Quality of Life in Older Adults