In Mexico, every February 9th is celebrated the Day of the Dentist, established by decree of the Honorable Council of the Union and published on May 19, 2014 in the Official Gazette of the Federation.
The professionalization of dentistry in Mexico dates back to the first half of the 19th century. Since 1841, the profession of dentist began to be regulated by the Superior Council of Salubrity. By 1902, the first curriculum of the career of Dentist Surgeon was approved and in 1904 the National Dental Education Office was opened, annexed to the National School of Medicine.
Currently, according to data from the General Direction of Health Information, in 2015 the country had more than 6 thousand 900 dentists belonging to the Ministry of Health, and more than 2, 900 attached to the IMSS, ISSSTE and PEMEX.
The dentists, distributed throughout the country, perform an important task to prevent stomatological diseases and promote oral health.
Their work takes a greater dimension if considers that in Mexico and throughout the world, tooth decay tops the list of most prevalent diseases, affecting more than 2.4 billion people worldwide, according to data from the study of the Global Burden of Disease.
In addition to this, cavities and other mouth conditions not only directly affect oral health, they also have repercussions on general health.
For example, the loss of teeth at advanced ages affects the ability to chew and can lead to malnutrition. Dental infections and bacteria in the mouth are associated with infectious arthritis and endocarditis, as well as an increased risk of pneumonia, while gum diseases such as gingivitis or periodontitis are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, premature births and low birth weight.
To address this problem, Mexico´s Ministry of Health has a Program of Oral Health, which mission includes maintaining health and reducing oral morbidity in the Mexican population, establishing specific actions for promotion, prevention, limitation of damage and rehabilitation.
In this their day, the Ministry of Health recognizes all dentists.
Congratulations!
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