Oral health needs of older migrants with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in developed countries: a systematic review

Objectives: To identify and synthesise the available evidence regarding the oral health needs of and the oral health promotion provided for older, cultural and linguistically diverse (CALD) migrants in developed countries.

Method: Databases were searched using search terms to identify all relevant Englishlanguage research studies published between 2000 and January 2018.

Results: Thirty-nine articles met the review criteria. Thirty-three papers reported on the oral health needs of CALD older migrants and 6 on oral health programs provided for older migrants.

Conclusions: Cultural and linguistically diverse older migrants have high oral health needs and poor oral status and face a variety of barriers in accessing oral health care in their host countries. Recommendations to improve their access to oral health programs include building transcultural dental training into the educational requirements of dental students and developing oral health promotion programs that include culturally and linguistically customised information.