The Importance of Hospital Dentistry in Complete Health Care

Abstract

The performance of hospital dentistry has a direct impact on improving systemic conditions and preventing complications in the health of hospitalized patients. This is reflected in the significant reduction in the incidence of respiratory infections, the reduction in the need for the use of systemic antibiotics and the reduction in the mortality rate. In recent years, there has been an increasing number of dental professionals in the hospital environment. However, this index is still insufficient considering the relevance of hospital dentistry. Research indicates that adopting a simple and economical oral care protocol in intensive care units (ICU) can reduce the risk of contracting Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) by 46%. Furthermore, this approach also results in a significant reduction in costs, due to the reduction in medication consumption and the length of stay in ICU beds. Considering the importance of the subject, the objective of this review is to analyze the importance of hospital dentistry in preventing systemic complications and reducing the incidence of hospital infections, aiming to contribute to raising awareness about the need for training and dissemination of this area in universities and promoting implementation of standardized care protocols for the oral health of hospitalized patients. The presence of dental professionals within hospitals results in a significant reduction in the incidence of hospital-acquired infections, recovery and length of stay for patients and, consequently, costs for the institution. Furthermore, it is clear that the standardization and regularity of oral health care for hospitalized patients are essential for a faster and more effective recovery, contributing to saving lives. Encouraging and promoting hospital dentistry at universities is crucial to increasing awareness and participation of dental surgeons in this area. The training of future dental professionals to work in hospital environments can be integrated into the academic curriculum through specific disciplines, supervised internships and residency programs, in addition to awareness-raising work. Through these training and dissemination initiatives, universities can prepare future dental surgeons to act competently and engaged in hospital dentistry, thus contributing to the improvement of health care offered to hospitalized patients.