Epidemiology and Social Justice of Dentistry in the Mexican Context

Epidemiology and Social Justice of Dentistry

Abstract

Oral diseases are a widespread public health problem in most parts of the world, as they influence quality of life by affecting various aspects of daily life, such as pain, discomfort, sleepless nights, limited ability to eat leading to poor nutrition, and time away from school or work as a result of dental problems, all of which are considerable and costly. The priorities of Mexico's Oral Health (OH) policy are to reduce dental caries, periodontal disease, and oral cancer. To this various policy components have been designed, such as preventive education in schools, healthcare education, and salt fluoridation. One of the main tasks of health decision-makers is to find strategies to prevent or control these problems. In Mexico, dental consultations are generally carried out in private, public, and/or social security clinics. Public health services offer what is considered basic care; rehabilitation and cosmetic treatments are not covered by these services, and people are forced to use private services to complete their treatment plans. Prevention and appropriate treatment of common oral diseases are part of the basic component of primary health care, and low-income populations are particularly at risk due to a variety of factors, including lack of access to dental care, the high cost of dental services, and a general lack of information about the vital role that OH plays in people's well-being.