Teaching oral and maxillofacial pathology and oral medicine in undergraduate and postgraduate in Latin America.

Abstract

Background: Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (OP) and Oral Medicine (OM) are specialties in dentistry responsible for diagnosis and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions, and to best of our knowledge no information about teaching of OP and OM in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Latin America have been described. The aim of the present study was to evaluate dimensions related to the teaching of OP and OM in South America and Mexico.

Material and methods: A structured questionnaire was elaborated and sent to 10 countries, with a professional in each country responsible for answering it. The questions were related to theoretical, laboratory, clinical activities, specialization, residency, master's and PhD courses, and to information from the legislation of OP and OM in each country.

Results: 70% of the countries studied, the disciplines of OP and OM are compulsory with workload ranged from 60 to 660 hours. Seven countries have mandatory discipline of OP and 40% have laboratory activities with the study of histopathology. In the case of OM, 60% of the countries have theoretical classes and 40% have mandatory clinical practices. In all ten countries there are laws regulating the opening and operation of undergraduate courses in dentistry. Regarding to the teaching of the postgraduate, the most common was specialization, offered by seven countries, master's degree programs in six countries, while residency is offered by only two countries and the specific PhD in OP/OM offered only in Brazil. Only three countries do not offer postgraduate scholarships and two do not have a research funding agency.

Conclusions: OP and OM are specialties offered at both undergraduate and postgraduate in Latin American countries, with small differences between teaching methodologies in undergraduate and type of training in postgraduate.