Inclusion of interprofessional collaborative practice for the promotion and prevention of oral health

Abstract

Health prevention and promotion actions are relevant in primary care; nevertheless, those related to the Oral Health Program in Chile are associated with preventive programs and are not part of them, which occurs in other countries as well. The objectives of this review are to display the current international policies and guidelines that indicate that an Interprofessional Collaborative Practice should be promoted for a better quality of care as well as to propose interprofessional work including promotion and prevention actions in Oral Health in the existing preventive programs. Interprofessional Collaborative Practice occurs when members of the health team organize, plan, manage and provide integral health services, avoiding fragmentation of care. This is achieved by structuring common, collaborative, and specific competencies. Interdependent work allows complementing knowledge and skills that contribute to comply with the policies of Quality of Care and Triple Aim in health. Therefore, work strategies in oral health promotion and prevention are proposed to be incorporated and implemented in the various preventive programs already in place throughout the life cycle. In conclusion, there is a need for a paradigm shift in oral health care, where the focus is no longer on the program but on the individual, family, and community to achieve comprehensive health. Finally, it becomes relevant to share experiences of interprofessional care, and incorporating Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice in the formative process of future generations.