Social dentistry: an old heritage for a new professional approach

If dental professionals want to improve the oral health of their patients, they need to address what makes them sick: the social determinants of health. In this article, we propose a model of 'social dentistry' that shows how dentists could tackle these fundamental causes of oral disease. Socially engaged dentists conduct actions at three levels. At the individual level, they provide patient-centred care and, when necessary, liaise with local resources to better address what makes their patients sick. At the community level, they adapt their practice to the needs of the most vulnerable groups and advocate for healthier local policies. At the societal level, they are engaged in upstream actions addressing the social determinants of health.