Relación entre el nivel educativo y la enfermedad periodontal

Abstract

The social determinants of health, such as educational level, intervene in the progression of periodontal disease. Social determination of health is a key point to establish the educational index through the general, particular, and individual domains that affect the quality of life of people. Objective: To analyze the relationship between educational level and periodontal disease. Materials and methods: A bibliographic review was carried out using SciELO, Elsevier, Medigraphic, Dialnet, Medisur, and Google Scholar digital databases; from these sources, a total of 48 articles were collected. Of the total number of papers, eight were disapproved, leaving forty approved ones (2011 to 2023), of which 37 were in Spanish and 3 in English. Results: In several studies, it has been shown that a low educational level generates a lack of knowledge about oral hygiene measures and a balanced diet, causing a high prevalence of periodontal disease, while a high educational level provides better employment opportunities and therefore, facilitates access to dental care periodically preserving the care of the oral cavity. Conclusions: Social determination of health is an important approach to understanding the relationship between educational level and periodontal disease; hence, it is essential to promote oral health education and improve access to dental care to prevent and treat oral diseases, improving the oral and general health of individuals.