Resumo

JUNQUEIRA, Simone Rennó; ARAUJO, Maria Ercília; FONSECA, Graciela Soares  e  ZILBOVICIUS, Celso. Reality as pedagogical skill: oral health problems and use of oral health services. Arq. Odontol. [online]. 2014, vol.50, n.3, pp. 121-130. ISSN 1516-0939.

Aim: To contribute to the discussion on the perception of dental problems, as well the use of dental services, and simultaneously provide elements that contribute to reflections on changes in oral health education, the present study sought to reveal and analyze the oral health problems and use of dental services from a household survey on the morbidity of reported health, using a form applied to residents in the surrounding areas of two Public Healthcare Units developed by groups of Tutorial Education Program of Work for Health (PET-Saúde). Methods: This is a quantitative, cross-sectional study, conducted by students of Health Schools from the University of São Paulo (USP), who are participating in the PETSaúde program. This study's sample consisted of 1318 individual residents from more vulnerable areas or in new areas registered by the healthcare units. Data analysis was based on descriptive and analytical statistics, using the Epi Info version 6.0 software. The chi-square test was used to determine access to dentist, with results expressed as a prevalence ratio (significance level of 5%). Results: The most prevalent oral health problems reported were dental caries (17.2%) and missing teeth (8.6%). Although 81.3% of the population reported having used dental care services, only 8% sought out public health units to resolve these problems, searching instead for private services (16.3%). Access to dentists was significantly associated with the female gender (p = 0.0315) and car ownership (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: Among the oral health problems identified by the residents of the studied areas, the most commonly cited were dental caries and missing teeth. The low use of public dental services in the areas was also detected. Health services, therefore, must develop a coherent work according to the population's demands in the region in question, expanding access of this population to public dental health services due to aforementioned oral morbidities, in turn contributing to an organization of the necessary duties.

Palavras-chave : Staff development.; Dental health services.; Dental health surveys.; Morbidity surveys.; Family health strategy..