Social determinants of oral health among adults in Saudi Arabia: a narrative review.

Oral health is an integral component of general health and quality of life; however, oral diseases remain unevenly distributed due to social, economic, and contextual factors. In Saudi Arabia, adults experience a substantial burden of dental caries, periodontal disease, and related conditions, with evidence suggesting marked disparities across socioeconomic and demographic groups. Despite growing research attention, evidence on the social determinants of oral health among Saudi adults remains fragmented. This narrative review aimed to synthesize existing evidence on the social determinants of oral health among adults in Saudi Arabia and to identify key patterns, gaps, and implications for policy and practice. A narrative review was conducted following the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA). Literature was gathered from PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, focusing on social determinants of oral health among Saudi adults. Empirical studies addressing social, economic, cultural, behavioral, and structural factors were included, and findings were synthesized thematically using a narrative approach. The reviewed literature consistently demonstrates that socioeconomic status, particularly income, education, employment, and geographic location, strongly influences oral health outcomes and dental service utilization among Saudi adults. Lower socioeconomic position is associated with a higher prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease, reduced use of preventive dental care, and poorer oral health-related quality of life. A persistent gap between oral health knowledge and preventive practices was evident, shaped by financial constraints, access barriers, and cultural perceptions. Tobacco use, including smokeless tobacco, and the interaction between oral and systemic conditions, such as diabetes, further exacerbate oral health disparities, especially among vulnerable populations. Oral health disparities among Saudi adults are driven by complex social determinants that extend beyond clinical factors. Addressing these inequities requires integrated strategies that combine preventive dental care, health system reforms, culturally responsive health promotion, and policies targeting socioeconomic disadvantage, in alignment with national public health priorities such as Saudi Vision 2030.