Background: Migrants frequently encounter structural barriers to healthcare that contribute to persistent oral-health inequalities. In Cyprus, the oral-health status and access barriers affecting migrant communities remain insufficiently documented, limiting the development of equity-driven public-health strategies. Objective: To compare oral-health status, functional impacts, preventive behaviours, and access to dental care between migrants and non-migrants in Cyprus, and to examine sociodemographic and behavioural predictors of oral-health outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 adults (100 migrants and 100 non-migrants) recruited from public health centers in Nicosia between April and May 2025. A structured questionnaire assessed self-reported oral-health status, functional limitations, oral-hygiene practices, dental-care utilisation, and perceived access barriers. Between-group differences were analysed using chi-square tests. Results: Migrants reported significantly poorer oral health than non-migrants, including higher prevalence of toothache (59% vs. 21%), bleeding gums (68% vs. 21%), halitosis (67% vs. 15%), and gum disease (56% vs. 23%) (all p < 0.001). Functional impairments were more common among migrants, including difficulty chewing (42% vs. 10%), brushing (32% vs. 11%), and smiling confidently (36% vs. 12%) (all p < 0.001). Preventive behaviours were markedly less favourable among migrants, who brushed less frequently, reported substantially lower use of fluoride toothpaste (16% vs. 81%), and relied more on toothpicks for oral hygiene (66% vs. 21%) (all p < 0.001). Migrants also experienced significantly greater barriers to dental care, particularly language difficulties, transportation constraints, and dental anxiety. Conclusions: Substantial oral-health inequalities persist between migrants and non-migrants in Cyprus. Culturally responsive, migrant-inclusive oral-health strategies are urgently needed to reduce access barriers, strengthen preventive care, and advance SDG-3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG-10 (Reduced Inequalities).
- Open Access
- Article
Oral Health Inequalities and Barriers to Dental Care among Migrants in Cyprus: Implications for the Global South and Sustainable Development
Author Information
Received: 13 Jan 2026 | Revised: 03 Mar 2026 | Accepted: 06 Mar 2026 | Published: 09 Mar 2026
Abstract
Keywords
migrants | oral health | inequalities | global south | sustainable development | Cyprus
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