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Dentists' perceived barriers to implementing preventive actions in dental practice: a qualitative study of
Leopoldo Javier Díaz-Arizmendi1, Emmanuel Santoyo-Río1, Fátima Del Carmen Aguilar-Díaz1
1Department of Public Health, National School of Higher Studies, Leon Unit. National Autonomous University of Mexico, León, Guanajuato, México.
Introduction:
Oral diseases remain a major public health challenge in Mexico. Despite the proven effectiveness of preventive measures, dentists do not consistently implement them in clinical practice. Understanding the factors underlying this gap is essential to strengthening prevention-oriented care.
Objective:
To identify perceived barriers to implementing preventive actions in dental practice.
Methods:
A qualitative study based on grounded theory was conducted using focus groups. Twenty-seven dental professionals from urban, semi-urban, and rural settings in Mexico participated in five virtual sessions. Data were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic coding.
Results:
Barriers to implementing preventive actions in dental practice were grouped into three categories: patient-related (lack of preventive habits, misinformation, financial constraints, fear of dental visits); dentist-related (biomedical training, professional prestige linked to complex procedures, financial incentives, and time constraints); and structural (limited institutional support, unequal service distribution, and poor integration of oral health into health policies). A subgroup of dentists reported consistent implementation of preventive actions, characterized by a biopsychosocial approach, stronger communication skills, and a health promotion-oriented professional identity.
Conclusions:
Cultural, professional, and structural factors interact to shape the implementation of prevention in dental practice in Mexico. Strengthening communication skills, reorienting dental education toward prevention, and enhancing institutional support may facilitate the integration of preventive actions into routine care.
Clinical Significance:
Understanding multilevel barriers to prevention may help dentists integrate preventive actions into routine care by strengthening communication strategies, addressing patient expectations, and adapting clinical decision-making to social and structural contexts.
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