The degree in Dental Medicine has existed in Portugal since 1976. Its duration was six years, such as the degree in Medicine. The
first three years (basic cycle) were superposable to the first three
years of the medical course, with the last three (clinical cycle)
referring to the study of oral cavity pathology and annexed structures. However, in
these last three years the patient was not seen as a whole, being a part
of the curricular plan referring to systemic manifestations of oral
pathology and vice versa. With this curricular profile, the
doctor-dentist would then be a physician who underwent an early
differentiation process within medicine.
The statutes of the Order of Dentists refer that the doctor-dentist is responsible for the study, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases of the teeth, mouth, jaws and attached structures. In this way, dental medicine as an independent profession, as in any other medical specialty, can apply medical-surgical therapy, with autonomy of prescription, the right to issue medical certificates and death certificates and others.
The statutes of the Order of Dentists refer that the doctor-dentist is responsible for the study, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases of the teeth, mouth, jaws and attached structures. In this way, dental medicine as an independent profession, as in any other medical specialty, can apply medical-surgical therapy, with autonomy of prescription, the right to issue medical certificates and death certificates and others.
The contribution
of dental medicine to the health of the population is not exhausted in
the strict field of oral health, nor in practice as a liberal
profession. The doctor-dentist should always act as an important agent for the integral promotion of health. The
importance of a well-treated mouth that is not the focus of infection
and / or inflammation would save millions of euros annually in the
treatment of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, kidney disease and
cardiovascular disease.
In this way, it is
crucial to actively involve dental practitioners and other professionals
working in the field of oral health in multidisciplinary teams and in
activities to prevent and treat all diseases. It would be an invaluable contribution in promoting the health of populations and in the well-being of patients.
With the
evolution of medical-dental science and art, a great challenge arises,
at the beginning of the 21st century: to be fit and qualified to
intervene in a hospital environment and in any NHS institution (health
centers, family health units and others) . In
addition, dentists can act in the private clinic, with sometimes
high-risk interventions in medically compromised patients, it is not
understood that in these 40 years dentistry is practically excluded from
the National Health Service. As an example of the
hospital area, these professionals could benefit from the support of
other specialties in multidisciplinary teams, with undeniable benefits
for the National Health Service and patients.
It seems that the
political power finally looked closely at the importance of oral health,
and there are signs of a political will to take clear and unambiguous
steps in this direction. If this is the case, it
will be a historical political decision, perhaps one of the most
important ones, right after the creation of the National Health Service
in 1979.
Well to the Portuguese
Association of Hospital Dental Medicine (APMDH), which, with the
commitment of its leaders, friends and associates, have been clamoring
for this for more than a decade. In fact, the birth of the APMDH came to institutionalize a struggle of its founders initiated in the previous decade. Welcome
to the North Regional Nucleus of the Portuguese League Against Cancer
NRN-LPCC and its leaders, which, together with the APMDH and its
clinical body of volunteers, have already carried out more than 6500
free consultations for the early diagnosis of oral cancer. The
current Government wishes to express its willingness to put oral health
and dentists in the place of general health and medical science,
respectively.
To end a word of
hope: that the implementation is properly carried out after listening
to the institutions that have evidence in this field ...
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