Why Anthropologists and Dentists Should Work in Synergy to Improve Oral Health (in Latin America)
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Fornai, C., 2023. Why Anthropologists and Dentists Should Work in Synergy to Improve Oral Health (in Latin America). Revista Argentina de Antropología Biologica.
Abstract
Various aspects of the craniomandibular system should be investigated to deepen our understanding of the proximate and evolutionary causes of the most common oral diseases in modern humans. Central American and South American populations are afflicted by a high prevalence of caries and, in general, suffer from poor oral health. Moreover, they have limited access to professional health care, which makes it even more urgent to focus research in these regions.
Given the multifactorial nature of the determinants underlying oral diseases, and considering the complexity of the stomatognathic system, an interdisciplinary approach involving anthropologists, dentists, and orofacial pain specialists, among others, seems to be the most suitable to carry out research addressing the most common oral diseases and their possible functional and social effects on the individual.
Anthropologists and dentists share a common interest in the craniomandibular system, its morphological variation and its diseases, and have traditionally used similar research methods. By combining their different skill sets, these professionals could work synergistically to generate relevant knowledge that may support all those concerned and may reach policymakers in oral health care. Their close collaboration would help identify the most relevant health issues, collect epidemiological data, and understand their implications for individual well-being, thereby addressing the needs of the target populations in compliance with local ethical regulations.