REPERCUSSIONS OF COVID-19 ON DENTAL CARE OF ORAL HEALTH TEAMS IN TWO MUNICIPALITIES IN CARIRI CEARENSE

Abstract

Investigating the care and work practices of dental surgeons in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic allowed us to assess risks and understand dental care experiences in a challenging context, contributing to management and health education decisions based on evidence and situational singularities. The objective of this study was to identify and analyze the repercussions of COVID-19 on the dental care of dental surgeons of the Oral Health Teams (OHT) of the Unified Health System (SUS) in the municipalities of Crato and Barbalha, located in the south of the state of Ceará. This is a descriptive study with a quantitative-qualitative approach with a cross-sectional approach, which had the participation of 30 dental surgeons and was carried out between April and June 2023. A reduction in dental care was demonstrated, accepted by 93.3% of dental surgeons, and a change in the oral health practices of these professionals. The lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the persistence of health management to increase the number of attendances were challenges faced by the OHT of the SUS in Crato and Barbalha. It is concluded that the study supports the development of improvements in infrastructure in dental care as a requirement to guarantee the quality of services and the safety of professionals and patients.