Resumen

ARAUJO ROSSEL, Shiriam Alejandra; CABEZAS TORRES, Norma Milena; ACEVEDO CARRILLO, Mauricio  y  LA SERNA LA ROSA, Pablo Antonio. Public health policies in oral health in Latin America: Advances, challenges, and perspectives based on a systematic review. Revista InveCom [online]. 2026, vol.6, n.1, e601071.  Epub 21-Jul-2025. ISSN 2739-0063.  https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15499265.

Oral health represents an essential component of general wellbeing, however, wide gaps persist in access, quality and equity of dental services in Latin America. The objective of this research was to critically analyze public policies in oral health developed in the region between 2019 and 2024, based on a systematic review of thirty-three scientific articles indexed in Scopus, SciELO and other academic databases. The methodology consisted of a categorical analysis that organized the evidence into six dimensions: promotion, prevention, access, regulation, research and integration with general health. The results reveal that, although there are advances in regulations and educational programs, there are still structural weaknesses, such as institutional fragmentation, limited coverage in rural areas and limited intersectoral articulation. In addition, a low incorporation of oral health in primary health care systems has been identified. It is concluded that there is an urgent need to reconfigure public policies with a territorial approach, a biopsychosocial perspective and scientific evidence to ensure accessible, sustainable and equitable oral health throughout the region.

Palabras clave : oral health; public policies; comprehensive wellness.

        · resumen en Español     · texto en Español     · Español ( pdf )