Dentists’ training in Chile and some iberoamerican countries: considerations for education, health and job / Formación de dentistas en Chile y otros países iberoamericanos: consideraciones en educación, salud y trabajo

ABSTRACT

In recent years, several studies focused on the training of dentists in Chile and other Ibero-American countries and its implications have been published. However, there is no analysis of all the evidence at a regional level. The aim of this article is to review the changes in training for dentists in Ibero-America, the educational and/or sanitary policies associated to these changes and the impact that they have for dentists in the future in Chile and the region. In general terms, a strong increase in the amount of available places for studying dentistry, without a clear sanitary or educational planning to justify it, has been observed in several countries of the region this rise does not show a positive impact in the access to dental treatment, especially for the poorest populations. Although the levels of satisfaction are high among dentists, an unemployment rise and a salary decrease have been observed over the last few years, which could impact professional satisfaction. In Ibero-America, an exponential increase of dental schools, without a positive impact on the oral health of the population, but negatively affecting workforce, is observed.