Commercial incentives in dentistry in Latin America 2010-2026: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Objective: To conduct a review of the scientific, regulatory, and ethical-legal evidence published between 2010 and 2026 regarding commercial incentives and their potential relationship with clinical dental decisions in Latin America.

Materials and methods: A scoping review was conducted guided by the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and the PCC approach. The following databases were consulted: PubMed, MEDLINE, PMC, SciELO, BVS/LILACS, Google Scholar, and Scopus.  Empirical studies, meta-analyses, regulatory, ethical, and legal documents, narrative reviews, and technical guidelines in Spanish, Portuguese, or English with explicit reference to Latin America were included. Country, type of evidence and incentive, clinical setting or area, and the behavior or decision involved were considered in data extraction.

Results: Of 597 documents, 27 documents were selected after screening and selection based on inclusion criteria. The evidence was scarce, heterogeneous, and concentrated in reports or regulations from Brazil, Chile, and Peru, as well as other regional studies. The dominant incentives identified were conflicts of interest in research (29.6%), followed by digital marketing and social media (25.9%), with limited regulatory frameworks. The most frequently cited clinical areas were cosmetic dentistry, general dentistry, and oral surgery.

Conclusion: The available evidence does not support a direct causal relationship between commercial incentives and clinical decisions in dentistry. However, indirect mechanisms of influence on clinical practice, technology promotion, and reputational enhancement are suggested.

Keywords: Dentistry; Conflicts of interest; Marketing of Health Services; Clinical decision-making.