A Survey About Dental Instruments at the Primary Health Care in Brazil

Abstract

This study describes the structure of oral health services in primary health care in Brazil and the instruments available for the provision of oral health care and to compare the number of instruments according to organizational characteristics of health services and among the macroregions. Of the 23,251 oral health teams (OHTs) in the Public Health System, 17,513 (75.3%) participated in this study. Trained researchers observed the structures of the health services and determined the presence of and whether a sufficient quantity of 36 dental instruments existed. The score of each oral health service was determined by the sum of the number of dental instruments present in sufficient quantity (0 to 36). Central tendency measures were compared along with the variability in these scores according to the organizational characteristics of the services and according to the Brazilian macroregion. No instrument was found to be present in all evaluated services. Basic, surgical and restorative instruments were the most frequently found. Periodontal, endodontic and prosthetic instruments exhibited the lowest percentages. The mean and median numbers of dental instruments were higher for teams that operated over more shifts, those with an oral health technician and those in the South and Southeast regions. The oral health services were equipped with basic, surgical and restorative instruments. Instruments designed for periodontal diagnosis, emergency care and denture rehabilitation were less frequently found in these services. The worst infrastructure conditions existed in the OHTs with the worst forms of care organization and in regions with greater social issues.

Structural characteristics of oral health services in Brazilian Primary Health Care

“…3 Evaluations using data from the 1st and 2nd cycle of PMAQ-AB have already addressed the work process of the teams, 4 user satisfaction with services rendered, 5 service provisions and basic care procedures, 6,7 and availability of instruments in OHS. 8 The provision of effective healthcare services is directly influenced by infrastructure conditions, and availability and adequacy of equipment, as well as materials and supplies that meet the needs of the service. Problems in this area compromise care, the quality of the services rendered, and the achievement of goals, making it impossible to perform clinical procedures effectively.…”

“…Although a good structure does not necessarily lead to good processes and results, its importance for healthcare outcomes cannot be ignored. 8 Although Lopes et al 8 evaluated the availability of dental instruments in OHS, that nation-based study fails to describe the structural characteristics regarding the availability of dental equipment and essential supplies for dental practice in Brazilian PHC. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe the structure of Brazilian OHS that participated in the second cycle of the PMAQ-AB, in relation to the presence of essential dental equipment and supplies for dental practices, comparing this structure among Brazilian macro-regions.…”