Biomedical Model Oral Health
Although the biomedical model has achieved dominance in the medical field, there are numerous additional factors that are attributed to every disease. “ In all societies, ancient and modern, preliterate and literate, the major criteria for identification of disease have always been behavioral, psychological, and social in nature” (Engel, 1977). To ignore these factors would be to deny a patient the optimal level of care available. The biomedical model focuses strictly on any deviations of measurable, biological factors (Engel, 1977). By viewing disease through such a narrow scope, psychological and social factors are unaccounted for and may lead to misdiagnosis or improper care of a patient.
The complexity of many diseases far exceeds the …show more content…
Since dentists are one of the few medical professionals that any person sees on a normal basis each year, a unique relationship can be formed and through this, patients receive a higher quality of care (Dworkin, 2001). Social factors including financial status, cultural beliefs and education along with psychological factors such as stress and behavior, all contribute to oral health with just as much importance as the biological factors (Dworkin, 2001). Two patients could come into clinic with cavities caused by the same bacteria, but in order to improve the oral health of each person, completely different approaches may be necessary. The complexity of a patient’s oral health status involves not only their teeth and gums, but is also affected by numerous aspects of their beliefs and lifestyles. In order to provide optimal care in any healthcare profession, the biopsychosocial model should be utilized.
References:
Borrell-Carrió, F., Suchman, A., & Epstein, R. (2004, November). The Biopsychosocial Model 25 Years Later: Principles, Practice, and Scientific Inquiry. Retrieved January 7, 2016, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1466742/
Dworkin, S.F. (2001). The dentist as biobehavioral clinician. Journal of Dental Education, 65(12), 1417-1429.
Engel, G. L. (1977, April 8). The need for a new medical model: A challenge for biomedicine. Science,196(4286),
The complexity of many diseases far exceeds the …show more content…
Since dentists are one of the few medical professionals that any person sees on a normal basis each year, a unique relationship can be formed and through this, patients receive a higher quality of care (Dworkin, 2001). Social factors including financial status, cultural beliefs and education along with psychological factors such as stress and behavior, all contribute to oral health with just as much importance as the biological factors (Dworkin, 2001). Two patients could come into clinic with cavities caused by the same bacteria, but in order to improve the oral health of each person, completely different approaches may be necessary. The complexity of a patient’s oral health status involves not only their teeth and gums, but is also affected by numerous aspects of their beliefs and lifestyles. In order to provide optimal care in any healthcare profession, the biopsychosocial model should be utilized.
References:
Borrell-Carrió, F., Suchman, A., & Epstein, R. (2004, November). The Biopsychosocial Model 25 Years Later: Principles, Practice, and Scientific Inquiry. Retrieved January 7, 2016, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1466742/
Dworkin, S.F. (2001). The dentist as biobehavioral clinician. Journal of Dental Education, 65(12), 1417-1429.
Engel, G. L. (1977, April 8). The need for a new medical model: A challenge for biomedicine. Science,196(4286),