SOCIAL DETERMINANTS AND GENETIC FACTORS IN ORAL HEALTH: TOWARD A PRECISION DENTISTRY APPROACH
Radu-Mihai Diaconescu,†, Drago?-Nicolae Ciongaru,†, Marina-Cristina Giurgiu*, Brîndu?a Florina Mocanu*, Cristina-Crengu?a Albu
ABSTRACT
Oral health is increasingly recognized as a multidimensional concept influenced by biological, behavioral, environmental, and social determinants. In recent decades, growing evidence has highlighted the contribution of genetic susceptibility and inflammatory pathways to the development and progression of oral diseases. This narrative review aims to summarize current knowledge regarding the influence of social determinants and inflammatory genetic factors on oral health outcomes. Socioeconomic status, educational attainment, and access to dental services significantly affect oral disease burden and contribute to persistent health inequalities. Concurrently, genetic polymorphisms involving immune mediators such as interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 may alter host responses to microbial challenges, thereby influencing the susceptibility and severity of periodontal diseases. Rare inherited inflammatory disorders, including Behçet disease, PAPA syndrome, and Papillon–Lefèvre syndrome, further illustrate the role of genetic dysregulation in oral pathology. Advances in genomics have created opportunities for precision dentistry through individualized prevention, risk stratification, and targeted therapeutic approaches. Nevertheless, the successful implementation of personalized oral healthcare requires the integration of genomic discoveries with established public health strategies aimed at addressing the broader social determinants of health. Combining population-based interventions with emerging precision medicine approaches may contribute to reducing oral health disparities and improving long-term outcomes.
Keywords: oral health; social determinants; periodontitis; genetics; precision dentistry; personalized medicine.
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