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Dentistry, medicine focus of international publication 


He couldn’t let this one pass. 

The special issue of February 2000 was the first in 20 years of Medico Interamericano, the journal of the Interamerican College of Physicians and Surgeons, dedicated to dentistry and medicine.
 The journal is published in Spanish and its wide distribution of 40,000 reaches physicians from the USA, Mexico, Latin America and Spain. And College of Dental Medicine professor Carlos Salinas, DMD, was serving as guest editor.

“This was an opportunity that I couldn’t let pass by. It was opening a new avenue to disseminate useful information to large groups of our colleagues in medicine. This year we have reached a particular momentum with many people and agencies taking a serious look at dental health from diagnosis, treatment and prevention view points and to reduce oral health disparities. The U.S. Surgeon General views oral health of children as a significant public health issue and indeed called for the first Surgeon General’s Conference on Children and Oral Health. I felt that with this issue we would show our interest and full support for such a novel and necessary initiative.

“Our efforts here at MUSC-College of Dental Medicine with a Dental Program for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Special Patients supported by the Healthy South Carolina Initiative, is another evidence of our commitment and interest in being an active instrument to enhance access to oral health for special children,” Salinas said.

“The disorders and diseases manifested in the mouth and the craniofacial structures are numerous. It is a complex pathology and requires dentists and physicians to be up to date to provide the right diagnosis and the necessary care for their patients.”

The February issue discusses some useful aspects of dentistry for the general physician and the dentist, since both are health professionals dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. The five papers of the issue illustrate the many connections between medicine and dentistry.

The journal includes papers from four College of Dental Medicine faculty members: Edward E. Herschaft, DDS, published a paper on “Drug Interactions Associated with Dental and Medical Therapeutics” and Luis Leite, DDS, and Ronald Bell, DDS, published a paper on “Facts About Today’s Orthodontic Treatment for Adults,” and Salinas published a paper on “Clinical Significance of Hypodontia.” 

Salinas is professor and director of the Division of Craniofacial Genetics, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics and the Director of the MUSC Craniofacial Anomalies and Cleft Lip and Palate Team.

The publications from the College of Dental Medicine faculty members shows a diverse scientific contribution. Because it is in Spanish, the journal is a significant outreach effort towards a large Spanish speaking physician and dentist community in this country.