Oral Health in Portugal: Small Steps in the Right Direction

Abstract

Oral diseases remain a major public health problem, due to its high prevalence and consequences, however, in Portugal, oral health indicators have been improving over the last few years. This is associated with the implementation of various strategies in health promotion, prevention and early treatment of oral diseases, with an important reinforcement of public sector intervention. It is important to revisit what measures have been implemented, how effective they are and how to improve them.

Geographical Distribution of Periodontitis Risk and Prevalence in Portugal Using Multivariable Data Mining and Modeling

“…A lack of financial support has often been a serious obstacle, in most countries, to permit adequate and sufficient dental care [ 25 ]. In Portugal, most oral health services are provided by private dentists who are not associated or have any agreement with public health protection mechanisms.…”

“…In Portugal, most oral health services are provided by private dentists who are not associated or have any agreement with public health protection mechanisms. Thus, in cases of illness, it is often the patients who pay the full cost of treatment, which often creates problems in accessing oral health care [ 25 ].…”

“…Dental vouchers are awarded by primary care health centers to certain beneficiary patients, such as children, pregnant women followed in the NHS, receivers of specific social protection benefits, and people diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus. This allows access to a range of preventive and curative treatments, free of charge, at any private dental surgery that has an agreement with the NHS [ 25 ]. Finally, another strategy was defined in 2016, which consisted of the integration of dentists in the performance of primary oral health care in health centers in order to provide treatment to patients referred by family doctors [ 25 ].…”

“…This allows access to a range of preventive and curative treatments, free of charge, at any private dental surgery that has an agreement with the NHS [ 25 ]. Finally, another strategy was defined in 2016, which consisted of the integration of dentists in the performance of primary oral health care in health centers in order to provide treatment to patients referred by family doctors [ 25 ].…”

Development of the European Portuguese version of the oral health assessment tool: Content validity and reliability study in an elderly population

“…15 Oral health indicators for Portuguese adults are still far from what is desired, and below the European average. 16,17 As in other countries, there is a very strong association between socio-economic status and the prevalence and severity of oral diseases. 16,17 In most Portuguese nursing homes, dentists and dental examinations are scarce, which reinforces the need for control of oral hygiene and oral health status by other health professionals, with consequent referral to specialized professionals.…”