# Inequity in Schoolchildren’s Access to Oral Health Services in Romania: Implications for Public Oral Health Policies

## TL;DR

This study examines why schoolchildren in Romania have unequal access to dental care and suggests policy changes to improve their oral health.

## Contribution

The study identifies interdependent factors affecting children's dental care access and proposes policy adaptations to address these issues.

## Key findings

- Multiple factors, including policy constraints and workforce distribution, influence children's access to dental services.
- Legislative provisions exist, but territorial disparities and low preventive care usage persist.
- Public health policies need to improve access, promote check-ups, and strengthen health literacy for children.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: In Romania, the oral health status of schoolchildren is insufficiently documented at the national level. This is due to the lack of systematic oral health reporting and fragmented access to dental care services. Methods: In this context, the main factors influencing schoolchildren’s access to dental services were identified through a triangulation approach that integrated documentary research, routine data on health service coverage, and oral health indicators collected through a survey conducted on 3843 schoolchildren. Results: The results highlight a multitude of interdependent factors that shape children’s access to dental care, namely policy-level constraints, dental workforce distribution and individual-level determinants—and provide insight into how public health policies can be adapted to more effectively meet the needs of this group. Conclusions: Despite legislative provisions on children’s oral health care in Romania, territorial disparities persist, and the use of preventive services remains low. These findings underscore the need for national- and county-level public health policies to improve access, promote preventive dental check-ups, strengthen health literacy, and develop targeted programs specifically dedicated to school-age children.