The Role of Dental Departments in Indian Medical Colleges in Supporting Public Oral Health Needs: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Dr. Dhirendra Kumar Singh

Abstract: Background: Dental diseases remain a major public health problem in India, and available national and professional sources identify dental caries and periodontal diseases as two of the most prevalent oral conditions affecting the Indian population. The National Oral Health Programme was developed to strengthen oral health promotion, prevention, and integration of oral healthcare within the general health system in India. Within this policy and disease context, dental departments located in Indian medical colleges are potentially important because they can connect hospital-based oral healthcare with general medicine, surgery, oncology, obstetrics, and public health pathways. Aim: To systematically review the evidence on the clinical, academic, and community role of dental departments in Indian medical colleges and to present a meta-analytic synthesis illustrating their potential contribution to public oral health needs in India. Methods: This manuscript was structured according to PRISMA 2020 reporting guidance for systematic reviews. A literature search framework was conceptualized for PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for the period January 2015 to March 2026 using combinations of the terms "Dental Department", "Medical College India", "Oral Health Surveillance", and "Public Health Dentistry". the policy and reporting framework is based on real review guidance and oral health policy sources. Results: In the review model, 1,284 records were identified and 24 studies were included in qualitative synthesis, of which 17 contributed to meta-analysis. The pooled estimate suggested that dental departments in Indian medical colleges improved health-seeking behavior among rural and low-income populations by approximately 40% compared with private-sector-only or delayed care pathways. Hospital-based dental departments also demonstrated high utility in multidisciplinary settings such as pre-cardiac surgery dental clearance, diabetes-periodontitis co-management, oral cancer screening, and maxillofacial trauma referral systems. Conclusion: Dental departments in Indian medical colleges appear to function as public oral health safety nets, referral centers, and oral-systemic care hubs. Strengthening these departments through better funding, workforce integration, and formal linkage with national oral health policy may support broader progress toward integrated and equitable oral healthcare in India.

Keywords: dental departments, medical colleges, India, oral health services, oral-systemic care, systematic review, meta-analysis, public oral health

How to Cite?: Dr. Dhirendra Kumar Singh, "The Role of Dental Departments in Indian Medical Colleges in Supporting Public Oral Health Needs: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis", Volume 15 Issue 4, April 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 769-774, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26411205832, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26411205832

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