Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Intersectional Inequities in Unmet Oral Care Needs in Sweden

Patterns of UOCNs inequities shifted during the pandemic, with increased intersectional inequities among socially privileged older adults and decreased inequities among immigrants. These findings may reflect Sweden's unique pandemic context, which emphasized individual responsibility over restrictive measures and may have influenced how people approached health-related behaviors, including seeking oral care.Knowledge transference statement:The reconfiguration of inequities in unmet oral care needs during the pandemic might be explained by the unique response in Sweden, which adopted less restrictive measures. These findings highlight the importance of tailoring future pandemic strategies to ensure equitable oral care access, that is, targeted interventions addressing the needs and challenges of both medically vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, and socially marginalized groups, such as immigrants facing structural disadvantages.