Periodontal disease in Latin America: regional approach and health strategy

Periodontitis is a chronic, non-communicable disease characterized by being inflam-matory, infectious, and multifactorial. It is one of the most prevalent diseases in the oral cavity to the point of being considered an epidemic. This condition can be prevented and treated; however, sanitary measures are still insufficient to achieve effective control in clinical practice. The progression of periodontitis is based on the presence of a dysbiotic microbiome that triggers an inflammatory response in the host, which translates clini-cally into the loss of dental support tissue, in turn causing its loss. It is worth highlighting the importance of knowledge about the relationship between the periodontal disease and systemic health, bidirectionality and the need for multidisciplinary management. Periodontitis represents a public health problem in Latin American countries and it is the responsibility of government states, as well as all health workers, to implement health strategies in order to reduce the impact of this disease on the most vulnerable popula-tions. The aim of this essay is to analyze the factors by which periodontal disease continues to be highly prevalent in Latin America and, furthermore, to promote disease prevention and control measures.