Making the case for a new typology of dental care systems.

We argue that a typology must consider institutional arrangements, structures, and processes behind the provision of dental care, and that specific dimensions/variables that inform the typology should result from a process of discussion and consensus. Some methodological considerations for developing typologies are also discussed, including the challenges in the collection and analysis of data followed by an advanced cluster analysis. Despite their limitations, typologies have evolved into an essential tool for comparing the similarities and differences of healthcare systems across countries. Therefore, a dental specific typology for health systems will be useful for researchers, policymakers, and dental professionals to characterize the provision of dentalcare services in different countries. This will also enable examining their potential role as determinants of population oral health and inequalities.