Oral Health in Brazil - Part I: public oral health policies

Abstract

This paper reviews the historical development of public health policies in Brazil and the insertion of oral health in this context. Since 1988, Brazil established a Unified National Health System ("Sistema Unico de Saúde"--SUS), which was conceived to assure access to health actions and services, including oral health. However, a history of lack of access to health services and the health problems faced by the Brazilian population make the process of building and consolidating the SUS extremely challenging. Since 2004, the Oral Health National Policy has proposed a reorientation of the health care model, supported by an adaptation of the working system of Oral Health teams so that they include actions of health promotion, protection and recovery. Human resources should be prepared to act in this system. The qualifying process must take in consideration knowledge evolution, changes in the work process and changes in demographical and epidemiological aspects, according to a perspective of maintaining a balance between technique and social relevance.

Prevalence and associated factors of traumatic dental injuries in Brazilian schoolchildren

“…Moreover, the fluoridation of the public water supply and dentifrices has also played an important role in the decline of the incidence of dental caries (26,27). The improvement in access to public oral health services (28) may be another important reason for the decrease of dental caries experiences in populations of high social vulnerability. Thus, factors such as health‐related behavioral problems or other psychosocial risk factors may be common risk factors of TDI and dental caries (3).…”

Associação entre a cobertura de equipes de saúde bucal na saúde da família e o aumento na produção ambulatorial dos municípios brasileiros, 1999 e 2011

“…A saúde bucal na ESF representa a estratégia para a implantação de um novo modelo de Atenção Básica à saúde bucal, que se fundamenta no estabelecimento de territórios para o cuidado prioritário, controle das doenças bucais e seu impacto epidemiológico em médio e longo prazos 7 . Estudos sobre a influência da incorporação das ESB/ESF no uso dos serviços vêm sendo publicados nos últimos anos 9,10,11,12 .…”

Comparing adult users of public and private dental services in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…The phenomenon of the use of oral health services is a complex issue, especially in Brazil, where young age groups are given priority over adults and the elderly in public services [36]. …”