Summary
The current political and social crisis which derived in a constituent process, has aroused interest in important discussions that also include the dental profession. Oral health is a clear marker of social disadvantage, reflecting health inequities in every aspect. The lack of public oral health policies, particularly with regard to the adult population, whose needs when postponed, suffer the consequent deterioration of their oral health. On the other hand, the oversupply of dentists does not solve the problem in a scenario of total deregulation. Unemployment and job insecurity are increasingly common among young professionals, who must accept conditions imposed by their employers, whose financial objectives often encourage intervention rather than prevention, thereby increasing the risk of overtreatment and iatrogenesis. The current process represents an opportunity to reevaluate the educational role of universities, and the social role of dentists in a scenario with serious oral health inequities.
KEY WORDS: dentistry, oral health, public policy, social determinants of health, dentists.
How to cite this article
FAJRELDIN, C. V.; BORGEAT, M. M.; DANKE, H. K.; VALENZUELA, F. B. & TORRES, C. C. Challenges of the Chilean dental profession in the context of a new social contract. Int. J. Odontostomat., 15(4):1005-1008, 2021.
