Call for papers - Community-based dental care

Guest Editors

Mas Suryalis Ahmad, PhD, DClinDent Special Needs Dentistry, MMedEd, BDS, MARA Technological University, Malaysia
Burak Buldur, DDS, PhD, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Türkiye
Ronel Maart, PhD, MPhil, PDD Conmdent, BChD, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Nélio Veiga, PhD, Catholic University of Portugal, Portugal

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 5 January 2026

BMC Oral Health invites researchers to contribute to the evolving field of Community-based dental care. We seek to showcase innovative research that explores the integration of dental services within community health initiatives, focusing on health education, awareness, and access in lower and middle-income countries. By fostering collaboration and sharing successful strategies, this Collection aims to improve oral health outcomes and reduce disparities in dental care access.

New Content Item This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Mas Suryalis Ahmad, PhD, DClinDent Special Needs Dentistry, MMedEd, BDS, MARA Technological University, Malaysia

Assoc Prof Dr Mas Suryalis Ahmad, President of the Malaysian Dental Association and Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at MARA Technological University, Malaysia, is a specialist in Special Needs Dentistry. She teaches Special Care Dentistry at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels at several universities across Asia. She holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and a Master of Medical Education from the University of Malaya, as well as a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry and a PhD in Special Needs Dentistry from the University of Melbourne. Recognized for her excellence in research, innovation, and achievements in Special Care Dentistry, Gerodontology, and Dental Education, Dr Ahmad is a member of multiple prestigious organizations, including the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons and the Royal Colleges of Surgeons in Ireland, Glasgow, and England. She also holds prominent roles such as Chair of the Education Committee for the International Association for Disability and Oral Health and Vice President of the Malaysian Association for Disability and Oral Health.

Burak Buldur, DDS, PhD, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Türkiye

Prof Dr Burak Buldur is a full-time professor at Sivas Cumhuriyet University, specializing in pediatric dentistry. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of Contemporary Pediatric Dentistry and president of the International Congress of Contemporary Pediatric Dentistry (ICCPD). Ranked second worldwide in pediatric dentistry (2023, ScholarGPS), he was also listed among the World’s Most Influential Scientists (Stanford, 2021). He has numerous international publications, serves as an editor and reviewer for SCI-indexed journals, and focuses on dental anxiety, behavior management, pediatric and regenerative endodontics, and qualitative research in dentistry.

Ronel Maart, PhD, MPhil, PDD Comdent, BChD, University of the Western Cape, South Africa

Prof Dr Ronel Maart serves as the Deputy Dean Academic at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. She has extensive experience in both the private and public healthcare sectors and holds an MPhil and PhD, specializing in Health Professions Education. Her research interests and expertise encompass community engagement, digital dentistry, and health professions education. She is a fellow of the SAFRI (Southern African FAIMER Regional Institute) and has also been a member of its faculty. On an international level, she is affiliated with the Association of Dental European Education (ADEE) and the International Association of Dental Research (IADR). Additionally, she is a council member of the South African Association of Health Education (SAAHE), where she serves as Chairperson for the Regional Chapter and the Executive Research Committee. She played a key role as Chairperson of the TUFH 2024 Scientific Committee and has contributed to numerous scientific committees for both local and international conferences. Her academic contributions include presentations at national and international conferences and publications in esteemed journals worldwide.

Nélio Veiga, PhD, Catholic University of Portugal, Portugal

Dr Nélio Veiga graduated in Dental Medicine from the Catholic University of Portugal (UCP) in 2006. In 2010, he completed a Master's degree in Public Health at the University of Porto. In 2015, he earned a PhD in Biomedicine at the University of Beira Interior. He is currently an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Dental Medicine at UCP. Additionally, he is an integrated researcher at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health (CIIS) at UCP. He has served as the coordinator of the 2nd cycle of studies of the Integrated Master's Degree in Dental Medicine at UCP. Dr Veiga is responsible for the knowledge field of Community Oral Health in the Integrated Master’s Degree in Dental Medicine at UCP, and has developed research in the areas of public oral health, with more than 100 presentations/conferences and publications in the form of an abstract in national and international congresses. He has published more than 50 scientific articles.

About the Collection

BMC Oral Health is pleased to announce our upcoming Collection, Community-based dental care. This topic has emerged as a vital approach to addressing oral health disparities, particularly in underserved populations. This model emphasizes the importance of integrating dental care within the broader community health framework, focusing on accessibility, prevention, and education. Community-based dental care can effectively reach individuals who may otherwise lack access to dental services by leveraging community resources and promoting collaboration among healthcare providers. The approach addresses immediate dental needs and fosters a culture of preventive care, empowering communities to take charge of their oral health.

Advances in community engagement strategies, health education, and awareness initiatives are paving the way for more effective interventions. Additionally, leveraging technology, such as tele-dentistry, can enhance the delivery of dental care and education, helping to reach broader populations and reduce barriers to access. Future research in community-based dental care may lead to innovative models that better integrate oral health into existing healthcare systems. This could include developing targeted programs that address specific community needs, utilizing data-driven approaches to evaluate the impact of interventions, and fostering partnerships that enhance resource sharing and collaboration.

We invite submissions that explore various aspects of the topic, including but not limited to:

Impact of community health initiatives on oral health
Health education strategies in community dental care
Awareness programs for underserved populations
Barriers to dental care in lower and middle-income countries

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select Community-based dental care from the dropdown menu.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.