Economic globalization and oral health.
OBJECTIVE
To briefly review the origins of economic globalization and examine the evidence available concerning its possible impact on oral health.


METHODS
Based on Medline searches 1966-1999 and review of Health Wrights: Politics of Health database. SPECIFIC ORAL DISEASES: Dental caries, destructive periodontal diseases, cancrum oris and oral cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
The reported growing disparity between rich and poor populations, both internationally and nationally, is arguably being exacerbated by economic globalization. Increasing levels of the above specific oral diseases might be attributed, in part, to this economic phenomenon.
Hobdell
M H
MH
University of Texas, Houston Dental Branch, Department of Dental Public Health and Dental Hygiene, 77030, USA.
D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics*; D004467:Economics / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D009625:Noma / Q000453:epidemiology; D009909:Oral Health; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty