June 2016

The mouth as a site of structural inequalities; the experience of Aboriginal Australians A. Durey, D. Bessarab and L. Slack-Smith Objective: To address the mouth as a site of structural inequalities looking through the lens of Aboriginal Australian experience. Research design: This is a critical review of published literature relevant to our objective. Criteria for selection included articles on: the social context of oral and general health inequalities for Aboriginal Australians; Aboriginal perceptions and meanings of the mouth and experiences of oral health care and the role of the current political-economic climate in promoting or compromising oral health for Aboriginal Australians. Results: Evidence suggests oral health is important for Aboriginal Australians yet constrained by challenges beyond their control as individuals, including accessing dental services. Competing demands on limited budgets often led to oral health dropping off the radar unless there was an emergency. Key words: inequalities, structural factors, oral health, health services, Indigenous