Oral pathology and oral medicine in Latin American countries: current stage

É-G Santos-Leite*, L Sobral, G Gilligan, J-L Flores-Ramos, W-A González-Arriagada, C-P Vega, P Reiván-Ortiz, M-D González-Galván, W Delgado-Azañero, R Bologna-Molina, M Villarroel-Dorrego, R Martinez-Pedraza, Bruno Augusto Benevenuto de Andrade, Hercílio Martelli-Júnior

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Oral Pathology (OP) and Oral Medicine (OM) are specialties in dentistry whose main objective is the diagnosis and treatment of oral and maxillofacial diseases, and aspects related to the academic training of professionals and fields of practice are distinct and heterogeneous around the world. This study aimed to evaluate professional training and areas of activity in OP and OM in Latin American countries.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 11 countries, with a professional in each country responsible for answering it. The questionnaire had 21 questions related to the process of professional training, areas of practice, the existence of scientific events in each country, and also collected demographic and population information.

RESULTS: OP and OM are practiced in all the countries studied, but the specialty is not recognized in all of them. Brazil was the first to recognize both as a specialty. Postgraduate programs designed to train specialists are available in various countries. Two countries offer residency programs, 6 countries provide specialization courses, 6 offer master's programs, and 3 have doctoral programs. Brazil boasts the highest number of undergraduate courses (n=412), while Uruguay has the lowest (n=2). Professional societies representing the specialty exist in ten countries. Brazil has the highest number of OP and OM specialists (n=422 and 1,072), while Paraguay has the smallest number (n=1 and 3).

CONCLUSIONS: Although both specialties are widely practiced around the globe, professional training, the number of dentists trained and the fields of professional practice are very different between the countries studied.

Original languageEnglish
Article number26500
Pages (from-to)e527-e532
Number of pages6
JournalMedicina Oral, Patologia Oral y Cirugia Bucal
Volume29
Issue number4
Early online date14 Apr 2024
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jul 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Medicina Oral S. L. C.I.F.

Keywords

  • Oral pathology
  • oral medicine
  • dentistry
  • education
  • Humans
  • Self Report
  • Pathology, Oral/education
  • Oral Medicine/education
  • Latin America

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