Dr. Takafumi Yamamoto
Junior Fellow, April to September 2027
Hokkaido University
- Assistant Professor at the Department of Preventive Dentistry, Hokkaido University Hospital, Japan.
- Research interests include dental public health, social epidemiology, oral health inequalities, and comparative population health research.
- Published studies on oral health inequalities, access to dental care, tobacco control, and causal inference in oral and general health research.
Fellow project: Towards Equitable Oral Health: Cross-National Evidence on Socioeconomic Determinants from Germany, Sweden, and Japan
Socioeconomic status is a major determinant of oral health, but it remains unclear whether its impact is consistent across different health systems. This project examines whether socioeconomic gradients in oral health are observed across Germany, Sweden, and Japan, and whether their magnitude differs between countries. Using nationally representative and population-based oral health surveys, the study will compare adults aged 35–44 and 65–74 years, focusing on indicators such as the number of remaining teeth and periodontal status. The project will also assess whether changes in oral health inequalities over time reflect shifts in population composition, such as education or income distribution, or changes in the strength of the association between socioeconomic status and oral health. By generating cross-national evidence, the project aims to inform fairer oral health policies and resource allocation across dental care systems.