The future of oral health begins with pediatric dentistry at SUS – our children in good hands

Abstract

Introduction - The municipality of Tocantins, together with the Municipal Health Department, carries out oral health prevention and promotion actions with the team at UBS São José (ESF São Gabriel and ESF Grama). The oral health team, made up of a dentist and an oral health assistant, promote monthly actions proposed by the Health at School Program (supervised toothbrushing and topical application of fluoride), as well as meetings with parents and guardians about diet, oral hygiene and themes related to prevention and care for the body and mind.
Objective – The experience report is a way of interacting, informing and exposing realities that can encourage and illustrate to others how the Health at School Program is important for maintaining decent oral health for children, reducing fear of the dentist, treatment and impact on the child's future without early tooth loss and painful symptoms.
Activities developed - The schools involved are: Capitão Antônio Pinto de Miranda Municipal School, Augusta Maria Municipal School, Maria Aparecida Razze Rossi Municipal School, Prefeito Corrado Coberti Municipal School, Rosália Vallone Municipal Nursery, Carlota Freire Santiago Municipal Nursery, Desembargador João Loyola Municipal School . The program covers children from zero to eleven years old with monitoring by education professionals who strengthen the multidisciplinary bond. In the collective activities, the children are very receptive and the brushing technique improves every month. Reinforcement is extended to education professionals and parents who feel closer to answer questions and receive guidance. In a municipal school in the São Gabriel neighborhood, children aged between six and eleven years receive weekly dental care at the office set up at the school.
Results - The action has brought great results to the population, among them: increased dentist-patient bond, as we use lucidly (mannequins, books, pictures) while the service is carried out; the reported fear of the dentist is reduced because the presence of the professional in the school environment becomes familiar; education and health working as a team help professionals to exchange knowledge and discuss experiences; the free offer reinforces the success of the SUS as a quality curative action (without losing the preventive focus); acceptance and participation of parents and guardians with the oral health team, bringing positive results for both health and education. The municipality has reaped good results with the actions carried out in 4 schools and 3 municipal daycare centers (supervised toothbrushing and topical application of fluoride) and outpatient dental care carried out at the Municipal School Prefeito Corrado Roberti, with great emphasis on humanized and comprehensive care.
Conclusion/Final Considerations: In summary, the benefits that the Health at School Program brought to our municipality are notorious, since many patients come from less favored families who cannot afford private treatment. This reinforces one of the countless positive fruits that the SUS offers the population, which motivates us to continue fighting for it and for the population to have resolute, welcoming and humane dental care.