Interprofessional Oral Healthcare In Mining Regions Integrating Pharmacy Care, Occupational Medicine, And Restorative Dentistry

Mining communities, Oral health, Community pharmacy, Occupational medicine, Restorative dentistry, Prosthodontic rehabilitation.

1ABIDA KHAN,
Center for Health Research,
Northern Border University, Arar 73213, Saudi
Arabia, Email: aqua_abkhan@yahoo.com,
Orcid ID: 0000-0001-6186-461X

2MARAM RAKYAN ALANAZI,
College of Pharmacy, Northern Border University,
Rafha 91911, Saudi Arabia, Email:
maramrakyan@gmail.com, Orcid ID: 00090007-2860-0381

3FATIMA ABDULRAHMAN ALOUFI,
College of Pharmacy, Northern Border
University, Rafha 91911, Saudi Arabia, Email:
Fatima.aloufi2@gmail.com, 0009-0008-85721486

4WISSAM MUBARAK ALRWUILI,
College of Pharmacy, Northern Border University,
Rafha 91911, Saudi Arabia, Email:
wesamalrwyly78@gmail.com, Orcid ID: 00090004-0992-547X

5SHADEN ALANAZI,
College of Pharmacy,
Northern Border University, Rafha 91911,
Saudi Arabia, Email:
Alfayadhshaden@gmail.com, Orcid ID: 00090009-8803-1664

6HOWAYADA MAHANY MOSTAFA,
Department of Chemistry, College of Science,
Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia,
Email: Howayada_top@yahoo.com, Orcid ID:
0000-0003-0938-7881

7*MOHD IMRAN,
Center for Health Research,
Northern Border University, Arar 73213, Saudi
Arabia, Email: imran.pchem@gmail.com,
Orcid ID: 0000-0002-6064-1040

Received:18-06-2026
Revised:24-07-2026
Accepted:30-07-2026

European Journal of Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry (2026) 34 (7s), 905–913

Interprofessional Oral Healthcare In Mining Regions Integrating Pharmacy Care, Occupational Medicine, And Restorative Dentistry

Mining communities face a combination of occupational, behavioral, geographical, and healthcare access barriers that may increase oral health risks and delay preventive, restorative, and rehabilitative care. This review aimed to synthesize evidence on oral-health risks and care needs in mining regions and to propose an interprofessional pathway integrating community pharmacy, occupational medicine, and restorative and prosthodontic dentistry. Relevant evidence on oral health status among mine workers, access to dental care, integration of oral health into primary care, pharmacy participation, workplace health promotion, and restorative and prosthodontic management was reviewed narratively. Findings were grouped into five thematic domains, and no meta-analysis was performed. Available evidence indicates that mine workers commonly experience periodontal disease, dental caries, oral mucosal lesions, dental trauma, pain, tooth loss, tobaccorelated risks, and unmet treatment needs. Community pharmacists may provide non-invasive advice, medication review, tobacco cessation support, recognition of warning signs, and referrals. Occupational health teams can incorporate oral screening, risk assessment, education, surveillance, and referral into workplace services. In contrast, dental teams provide definitive diagnosis, periodontal stabilization, tooth preservation, restorative treatment, prosthodontic rehabilitation, and long-term maintenance. Coordinated referral, shared documentation, professional training, outreach services, and teledentistry are highlighted in the proposed bidirectional pathway. Evidence of local adaptation in Saudi Arabia is limited in mining, but there is national evidence. Future studies are needed to assess the feasibility, clinical outcomes, referral completion, and cost-effectiveness of interprofessional integration to determine whether it will enhance prevention, access, continuity, rehabilitation, and oral health equity.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ejprd.org - Published by Riset Publication Services LLC

EJPRD

Copyright ©2026 by Riset Publication Services LLC