Dental Public Health in the Context of the Italian National Health System: A Narrative Review

Dental public health plays a crucial role in ensuring equitable access to oral healthcare services. In Italy, despite a universal National Health System (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale, SSN), dental services remain largely privatized. This narrative review examines the current status of dental public health in Italy, in opposition to private practice, exploring the structure of services, public provisions, essential levels of care (LEA), services in the penitentiary system, and comparing the Italian model with other European systems. This review identifies three critical dimensions undermining equity in dental care: access disparities, limited public provision, and lack of systemic reform. Through international comparison, the paper outlines actionable strategies to improve service coverage and population oral health.