Libras in dental care

an experience report

Abstract

In terms of health care, it is clear that communication is essential to establish a bond and trust between professionals and patients. However, when it comes to the deaf community, there are still significant challenges in this process. In this study, the extension project “Libras in Dental Care” was developed, which arose from the perception of this reality and the need to train dentists to communicate more effectively with deaf patients. Through a selection process with dentistry students from the Belo Horizonte University Center (UNIBH), students were selected with the objective of carrying out training to care for this population. It is known that, because this is a recent area of ​​research, the number of health professionals who have mastered Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) is still scarce, which makes it difficult to exchange information between them and negatively impacts the phases of clinical treatment. Patients were treated using Libras at the teaching clinic, enhancing the access for this population, humanized care and inclusion. An important hypothesis to be highlighted is that for most of the patients treated, the use of muscle relaxant splints was indicated, fostering a possible relationship between deafness and anxiety disorders; however, future studies are suggested to verify this hypothesis. Therefore, teaching basic sign language to dental students, combined with the use of visual materials, allowed dental care to be more accessible and participatory for deaf patients, making it more humane as well. This experience highlighted how fundamental it is for sign language to be part of the training of healthcare professionals, as it is an indispensable resource for inclusive and responsible clinical practice.