Abstract

Oral health literacy (OHL) stands as an essential factor determining oral health outcome since older adults with dental implants need adequate understanding and abilities for maintaining implant durability and prevent negative outcomes. The status of OHL surveillance among this population lacks consistency throughout European healthcare systems which impedes the creation of specific interventions. This review examines current OHL monitoring approaches, highlights methodological gaps, and explores emerging strategies for improving surveillance. A comprehensive analysis of national oral health surveys, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), electronic health records (EHRs), and digital health tools reveals significant disparities in data collection, standardization, and integration. Findings suggest that leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), mobile health (mHealth) applications, and harmonized EU-wide health literacy assessments can enhance monitoring efforts. The improvement of oral health outcomes for older implant patients demands strong cross-border partnerships together with incorporated national health system standards for OHL metrics.