Oral Medicine in Latin America and the Caribbean: a comprehensive survey of recognition, training, and practice

• Cristina Saldivia-Siracusa ^[8] ; Leonor Victoria González-Pérez ^[9] ; César Rivera ^[1] ; Daniela Porras Guevara ^[10] ; Daymar Aviles ^[2] ; Eduardo David Piemonte ^[3] ; Efrain Cima Garcia ^[11] ; Elisa Contreras-Vidaurre ^[12] ; Gabriela Anaya-Saavedra ^[4] ; Gennisa Gutierrez Pérez ^[13] ; Gloria J Álvarez Gómez ^[5] ; Itza Rios ^[14] ; Leira Patricia Solís Espinal ^[15] ; Nathalie Amaya Londoño ^[6] ; Roberto Anaximandro Garcia Rejas ^[16] ; Rodolfo Epifanio ^[17] ; Sergio Castro Mora ^[18] ; Susana Vázquez Celhay ^[7] ; Marcio Ajudarte Lopes ^[8] ; Alan Roger dos Santos-Silva ^[8]
  1. [1] Universidad de Talca

     Universidad de Talca

     Provincia de Talca, Chile

     
  2. [2] Universidad Central de Venezuela

     Universidad Central de Venezuela

     Venezuela

     
  3. [3] Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

     Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

     Argentina

     
  4. [4] Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana

     Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana

     México

     
  5. [5] Universidad de Antioquia

     Universidad de Antioquia

     Colombia

     
  6. [6] Universidad de Buenos Aires

     Universidad de Buenos Aires

     Argentina

     
  7. [7] Universidad de la República

     Universidad de la República

     Uruguay

     
  8. [8] Oral Diagnosis Department, Semiology and Oral Pathology Areas, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  9. [9] Oral Diagnosis Department, Semiology and Oral Pathology Areas, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Immunodetection and Bioanalysis. Investigation Group POPCAD, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
  10. [10] School of Dentistry, Santa Maria University (USM), Caracas, Venezuela
  11. [11] Corozal Community Hospital, Corozal, Belize
  12. [12] Oral Medicine Department, School of Dentistry, Francisco Marroquín University, Guatemala City, Guatemala
  13. [13] 0The Dental Centre, St Clair, Trinidad and Tobago
  14. [14] 2Health Ministry, University of Panama, Panama City, Panama
  15. [15] 3School of Dentistry, Santo Domingo Autonomous University, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
  16. [16] 5School of Dentistry, del Valle University, Bolivia
  17. [17] 6Stomatology Department, School of Dentistry, Panamá University, Panama City, Panama
  18. [18] 7School of Dentistry, Costa Rica University, San Jose, Costa Rica

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• Localización: Medicina oral, patología oral y cirugía bucal. Ed. inglesa, ISSN-e 1698-6946, Vol. 30, Nº. 3 (May), 2025, págs. 363-372
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • This study aimed to investigate the scope of training and practice in Oral Medicine in Latin American and Caribbean countries. It explored legal, professional, and academic scope of regional OM practice, as well as current challenges perceived by experts in the field.

    We employed an observational, cross-sectional approach, utilizing a self-administered questionnaire delivered through the REDCap web platform.

    Oral Medicine is officially recognized as a dental specialty in 66.7% of Latin American and Caribbean countries, and 66.7% countries recognize it as a standalone field, separate from Oral Pathology. Additionally, 23.8% of the surveyed countries have national postgraduate Oral Medicine programs. Nearly half (47.6%) of the countries lack specific regulations, and there is significant variation in understanding clinical competencies. Private practice emerged as the dominant field of work for Oral Medicine practitioners. Notably, 90.5% of respondents identified the lack of recognition by multidisciplinary teams as a significant barrier to the practice.

    This study provides information on the current landscape of Oral Medicine practice in Latin American and Caribbean countries. It highlights disparities in recognition, regulation, and performance of the specialty. These findings call for international initiatives aimed at enhancing training pathways, scope of practice and the impact of Oral Medicine in the region.