Uso de metáforas para expressar a dor de dente: um estudo na área de antropologia da saúde

Abstract

This research was conducted with patients who sought emergency care at a Comprehensive Primary Care Clinic (CIAP IV) at the Dental School of Minas Gerais Federal University and at the Dental Center of a medium-sized city in the state of Minas Gerais. The scope of this article is to identify how the social representations of this issue are generated through the metaphors used by patients to express toothache. A total of 35 individuals of both genders who sought emergency care for toothache participated in the study. Content theme analysis was used. Social representations of toothache are generated as people resort to their life experiences to find words to express the problem. Prior sensations and feelings, and even imaginary situations, generate metaphors to attempt to explain the suffering. Toothache is often compared with the worst feelings ever experienced by individuals. Toothache represents great suffering for people seeking emergency dental care. This fact may help to develop further public oral health policies, bearing in mind that a socially deprived population is more often afflicted by toothache.

Self-perception and popular practices of oral health among black slave descendants elderly women in Brazil

“…Anthropology of health is a quite recent area still under development, especially in Brazil. 32 Through anthropological spectrum of healthcare it is possible to understand and visualize the myriad of meanings that illness and health have, under influence of cultural, ethnic, religiousness and social aspects of each and every society of the globe. 32 It is fundamental for healthcare professionals working with rural and indigenous groups, such as Quilombolas, the knowledge of cultural aspects of that community, their understanding of health and the most common therapeutic practices among them.…”

“…32 Through anthropological spectrum of healthcare it is possible to understand and visualize the myriad of meanings that illness and health have, under influence of cultural, ethnic, religiousness and social aspects of each and every society of the globe. 32 It is fundamental for healthcare professionals working with rural and indigenous groups, such as Quilombolas, the knowledge of cultural aspects of that community, their understanding of health and the most common therapeutic practices among them. 33 The pain itself is a subject feeling, that can only be experienced by the patient, but it carries a huge social representation, through human suffering, that is expressed by personal statements.…”

“…33 The pain itself is a subject feeling, that can only be experienced by the patient, but it carries a huge social representation, through human suffering, that is expressed by personal statements. 32 As Quilombola women described, dental pain is one of the most common and distressing types of ache, interfering in labor activities, eating, sleeping and emotional balance. 32 It is well documented the connection of higher dental pain rates with lower socioeconomic status and reduced educational levels.…”

“…32 As Quilombola women described, dental pain is one of the most common and distressing types of ache, interfering in labor activities, eating, sleeping and emotional balance. 32 It is well documented the connection of higher dental pain rates with lower socioeconomic status and reduced educational levels. 32 One of the elderly associated bad breath and infection with lack of treatment and dental care; her statement shows two problems that the scientific literature says are closely linked, especially relating to persistent halitosis.…”

Medo e ansiedade dos estudantes de diferentes classes sociais ao tratamento odontológico

“…Em contrapartida, um estudo realizado na Suécia não mostrou relação significativa entre escolaridade e renda familiar com o medo e a ansiedade ao tratamento odontológico, mas evidenciou o envolvimento com a cultura da população estudada 16 . As longas jornadas de trabalho, incompatibilidade de horários, falta de acesso ao serviço público de saúde, ausência de profissionais nas escolas e de dinheiro para a procura do atendimento particular faz com que os indivíduos das classes socioeconômicas menos favorecidas procurem o atendimento odontológico apenas em situações extremas de dor 17 .…”