The role of phytotherapics for oral health promotion in primary care dentistry: a mini-review

Abstract

This study sought to understand the use of herbal medicines as a therapeutic practice in dentistry in primary health care. A literature review was carried out using the databases National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health (PubMed), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), and Brazilian Dentistry Bibliography (BBO), using the descriptors found in DeCS (Health Sciences Descriptors) and MeSH (National Center for Biotechnology Information): “dentistry,” “primary health care” and “phytotherapy.” The results showed that dentists have a deficient theoretical-practical basis for training on herbal medicines in dentistry, which leads to the reduced prescription of herbal medicines in health services as auxiliary therapies for treating oral pathologies. The lack of knowledge of dental professionals and the low financial incentive of managers to use herbal medicines reflect the low adherence to herbal medicine in pharmaceutical care in health units. Professional qualification and financial investment are essential for consolidating phytotherapy in primary health care.