Dentistry Practice: Comparison Between the Developing Countries

This chapter explores the contrasting landscape of dentistry practices in high-income, middle-income, and low-income developing countries. The examination encompasses a wide array of facets, including licensing requirements, the historical development of dental clinics, services offered, workforce characteristics, salary structures, job satisfaction, continuous professional development (CPD), interprofessional and intraprofessional practice, patient care services, patient safety practices, consultation services, online and telehealth services, rural healthcare provisions, technology adoption, achievements, challenges, and recommendations. Licensing requirements vary significantly across these income-stratified nations, with high-income countries imposing rigorous standards, middle-income countries adopting varying levels of formality, and low-income countries facing challenges in standardization. The history of dental clinics also follows a pattern of development, from well-established facilities in high-income countries to emerging centers in middle-income nations and relatively new additions in low-income countries, often restricted to basic services. Services offered in these countries reflect their income levels, with high-income nations providing comprehensive care, middle-income countries offering a range of services, and low-income countries primarily focusing on basic treatments. The workforce in the public and private sectors experiences disparities in salaries and job satisfaction, depending on income levels. Continuous professional development is widely practiced in high-income countries, while access is limited in low-income ones. Interprofessional and intraprofessional collaboration is well-established in high-income countries but lags in middle and low-income nations due to resource constraints. Patient care services, safety practices, and consultation services exhibit similar patterns of variation. Online and telehealth services are extensively adopted in high-income countries but face technological and infrastructure challenges in low-income ones. Rural areas often suffer from limited access to dental care, especially in low-income nations, aggravating oral health disparities. Technology adoption follows a similar pattern, with high-income countries leading, middle-income countries catching up, and low-income countries lagging due to resource limitations. Despite challenges, all income strata have achieved significant milestones in dental care. However, addressing disparities in access, quality, and resource allocation is imperative. This chapter recommends strengthening licensing standards, promoting interprofessional collaboration, investing in telehealth infrastructure, increasing international cooperation, and prioritizing continuous professional development as steps toward achieving equitable global oral healthcare.