THE COMMODIFICATION OF DENTISTRY AND ITS IMPACTS ON HEALTH EQUITY: CHALLENGES FOR THE UNIFIED HEALTH SYSTEM

Abstract

The commodification of dentistry is a relevant phenomenon for understanding oral health inequalities in Brazil, particularly in a context where the private sector coexists with the universal right to health guaranteed by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). This essay aims to critically analyze the relationship between the commodification of dental care, socioeconomic inequalities, and oral health equity, while discussing the role of SUS in this context. The discussion was based on scientific literature addressing the National Oral Health Policy, access to dental services, private expenditures, medicalization, and the organization of oral health care. The implementation of the National Oral Health Policy and the Smiling Brazil Program contributed to expanding access to dental services and reducing absolute inequalities. However, socioeconomic differences remain associated with service utilization, ability to pay, and continuity of care. At the same time, the expansion of aesthetic procedures and social media has brought some dental practices closer to a consumer-oriented logic, raising questions about the boundaries between care, health needs, and the market. In this context, SUS plays a fundamental role in reducing inequalities by providing dental care regardless of users’ direct ability to pay. It is concluded that addressing oral health inequalities requires strengthening comprehensive, accessible, and equity-oriented public dental care.