Role of primary health care dental surgeons during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: Primary Health Care is the preferred gateway to the Unified Health System, occupying a central place in the service. However, the COVID-19 pandemic instigated the need for changes in the organization of work of primary care health teams. Objective: In this scenario, it is essential to know the performance of dental surgeons in terms of their technical capacity for action, in the face of the conditions established by the pandemic. Methodology: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach developed in a city in the countryside of Bahia with 29 dental surgeons linked to primary care. These professionals were invited to answer an online questionnaire that addressed issues related to the performance of dental surgeons and the management of oral health actions in the face of the restrictive measures imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: It was possible to identify that the pandemic interfered with the work process and the population’s access to dental services, expressed through the limitation of the population's access to oral health, changes in therapeutic techniques and interruption of collective health actions. Conclusions: The need to train dental surgeons to promote the resolution of the demands inherent in the fight against COVID-19 is fundamental for the strengthening of PHC and SUS.