Profile and satisfaction of patients with special health care needs assisted in dental specialty centers.

This study aimed to analyze the profile and level of satisfaction of users served in the dental specialty for patients with special healthcare needs (SHCN), based on the Brazilian Program for Improving Access and Quality ("PMAQ") of the Centers for Dental Specialties ("CEO"). This observational, quantitative study used a national secondary database in the public domain. Data were analyzed using the chi-squared test with Bonferroni correction, Student's t-test, and log-linear Poisson regression. Most users of the specialty "SHCN" interviewed were female (74.1% in 2014 and 68.8% in 2018), with a mean age of 41.7 (2014) and 44.9 (2018) years. For every 100 respondents who considered it regular or bad, 171 considered it good, and 199 considered it very good. Regarding satisfaction with the host of the "CEO," there were differences between the regions of Brazil (Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and South). There has been an increase in the number of "CEO" that serve users with autism spectrum disorder. Generally, the "CEO" network provides humanized and welcoming services, presenting better performance in the second evaluation cycle, according to user perception.

Orthodontics in the oral health care network of the Unified Health System (SUS).

This observational study aimed to describe and analyze data from two external evaluations of the National Program for Improving Access to and Quality of Dental Specialty Centers (PMAQ CEO), held in 2014 and 2018 in Brazil, which evaluated Dental Specialty Centers (CEO) using a national and census approach. We selected questions through a search in the microdata of the first and second evaluations. The groups were analyzed independently. To compare the groups, nonparametric tests were performed (Mann Whitney U). The formulated hypotheses were: there would be no differences between the data of these groups (h0) and there would be differences between the data of these groups (h1). For qualitative nominal variables, frequency distribution was verified and association tests were performed (chi-square test). The significance level for this study was set at 5%. We observed that orthodontic treatments were found in about 13% of the CEO. Regarding human resources, most professionals were specialists or had MSc or PhD degrees; were civil servants; had been hired by direct administration; or had been hired via public tender. Regarding the work process and inclusion of the CEO in the health care network, we observed a greater number of services that use single and electronic medical records, greater presence of services monitoring and analyzing goals, greater knowledge about monthly average of absenteeism (for 2018); and larger number of services with referrals from primary health care centers (for 2014). Expanding the view on orthodontics and including preventive, interceptive, and corrective treatments at different points in health care networks are essential strategies for achieving comprehensive care in universal health systems.

Toothache and tooth extraction as reasons for dental visits: an analysis of the 2019 National Health Survey.

The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of dental visits due to toothache and tooth extraction in Brazil and its association with individual and contextual variables. This two-step cross-sectional study included persons aged 18 years and older in the 2019 National Health Survey who had visited a dentist in the 12 months prior to the interview (n = 40,369). The individual-level outcome was having a dental visit due to toothache or tooth extraction. The ecological-level outcome was the proportion of dental visits for these reasons relative to all dental visits by Brazilian state. Associations with individual - sociodemographic characteristics, number of teeth, and type of health service used - and ecological variables - HDI and dental service coverage - were assessed using Poisson regressions. The prevalence of dental visits due to toothache or extraction was higher among individuals with no formal education, household income < 25% of the minimum wage, of black and brown skin color, living in rural areas, who consulted in the public health system, with 10-19 and 1-9 teeth, and men. The proportion of dental visits due to toothache/extraction in Brazilian states was negatively associated with the HDI and the rate of dental emergency team/100,000 inhabitants and positively associated with primary dental care coverage. The prevalence of dental visits due to toothache/extraction was associated with individual and ecological characteristics, indicating inequities in reasons for dental visits in Brazil. The potential of a well-structured oral health care network to overcome these inequities is suggested and needs to be better explored.

Contextual and local determinants associated with the achievement of goals in the endodontics specialty in Brazilian dental speciality centres: A multilevel analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess which factors were associated with the achievement of endodontic goals. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using secondary data from the second cycle of the Program for the Improvement of Access and Quality in the dental speciality centres-in Portuguese PMAQ-CEO. The independent variables extracted from this database were related to dental speciality centres (CEO in Portuguese). In addition, variables referring to the CEO host city were incorporated into the model. The outcome variable was the number of endodontic goals achieved calculated from the production of the CEO available in the Ambulatory Health Information System in 2018. Descriptive analyses and multilevel Poisson regression were performed with the software SPSS 23.0 and STATA 14.0. RESULTS: CEOs with more than 20% of patients' absenteeism were 26% less likely to reach the goals of the endodontics specialty; CEOs with availability of endodontists for more than 40 hours a week were two times more likely to reach the goals than those with less than 40 hours in endodontics specialty. CEOs with a waiting time for endodontic procedures greater than 45 days achieved a number of goals 31% lower than those with a waiting time up to 45 days. CEO type I and CEO type II showed 2.10 and 1.20 higher likelihood to reach the number of goals of the endodontics specialty than CEO type III. The number of endodontic instruments in sufficient number was positively associated with the achievement of goals. CEOs located in municipalities that reached more than 5% in the supervised brushing indicator had 2.26 greater likelihood to achieve the goals than those that did not reach this percentage. CONCLUSION: Contextual and local determinants are associated with the achievement of goals in the endodontic specialty in the dental speciality centres in Brazil.

Specialized dental care for people with disabilities in Brazil: profile of the Dental Specialty Centers, 2014. / Atenção odontológica especializada para pessoas com deficiência no Brasil: perfil dos centros de especialidades odontológicas, 2014.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the oral health care services for people with disabilities treated within the Dentistry for Patients with Special Needs (PSN) specialty. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with data from the Program for Improving Access and Quality of Dental Specialty Centers (PMAQ-CEO) in 2014. RESULTS: Of the total of 932 services evaluated, 89.8% did provide care for PSNs, 30.4% had physical accessibility, 59.7% provided referral to hospital care and most guaranteed complete treatment. Only a third of the Dental Specialty Centers planned 40 or more hours a week for providing clinical care to PSNs. CONCLUSION: The care network for people with disabilities is being formed but, even with specific financial incentives, it has limitations. Services need to eliminate physical and attitudinal barriers to ensure universal accessibility. Protocols based on risk classification are necessary, prioritizing care at DSCs for complex cases not attended to in Primary Care and organizing the dental health care network for people with disabilities.

Oral health care for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: perceptions of parents and caregivers. / Cuidados em saúde bucal a crianças e adolescentes com paralisia cerebral: percepção de pais e cuidadores.

The aim was to evaluate the oral health care of children/adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP) according to severity through the perceptions of parents/caregivers. A case series study was conducted at health services in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil with 94 mothers/caregivers of subjects with CP from 5 and 18 years old. Sociodemographic factors, oral health care and use of dental services (DS) were evaluated. The Gross Motor Function Classification System showed 67% with severe motor impairment. Subjects with severe CP had significantly higher frequencies of belonging to families with lower income (89%, p < 0.001), living in the interior (44%, p < 0.005), having transportation difficulties (60%, p = 0.04), difficulty regarding access to DS (88%, p = 0.009) and a greater need for oral hygiene (67%, p = 0.008), which was performed exclusively by the caregiver (94%, p < 0.001). Despite identified access barriers, dental care was facilitated for those with severe CP, early DS use, but low availability of dentists and low degree of humanization were cited as major problems. These results reveal problems related to daily oral health care, family living context, institutional support and quality of DS that should be addressed in comprehensive, inclusive, equitable social and economic public policies.

Objetivou-se avaliar os cuidados em saúde bucal de crianças/adolescentes com Paralisia Cerebral (PC) segundo a gravidade, através da percepção dos pais/cuidadores. Estudo série de casos realizado em serviços de saúde de Pernambuco com 94 mães/cuidadores de sujeitos com PC entre 5 e 18 anos. Avaliaram-se fatores socioeconômicos, demográficos, cuidados em saúde bucal e uso de serviços odontológicos (SO). O Sistema de Classificação da Função Motora Grossa mostrou 67% com comprometimento motor grave. Indivíduos com PC grave tiveram frequência significantemente maior de pertencerem a famílias com renda mais baixa (89%, p < 0,001), residirem no interior (44%, p < 0,005), terem dificuldades de transporte (60%, p = 0,04) e acessibilidade aos SO (88%, p = 0,009) e maior necessidade de higiene bucal (67%, p = 0,008) realizada pelas mães (94%, p < 0,001). Apesar das barreiras de acesso aos SO, o mesmo foi facilitado para aqueles com PC grave, com uso precoce dos SO, mas com baixa oferta de dentistas e de humanização. Esses resultados informam problemas relacionados aos cuidados diários em saúde bucal, contexto de vida das famílias, de apoio institucional e de qualidade dos SO a serem enfrentados com políticas públicas socioeconômicas e de saúde integrais inclusivas e equânimes.

Orthodontics in the oral health care network of the Unified Health System (SUS)

Abstract This observational study aimed to describe and analyze data from two external evaluations of the National Program for Improving Access to and Quality of Dental Specialty Centers (PMAQ CEO), held in 2014 and 2018 in Brazil, which evaluated Dental Specialty Centers (CEO) using a national and census approach. We selected questions through a search in the microdata of the first and second evaluations. The groups were analyzed independently. To compare the groups, nonparametric tests were performed (Mann Whitney U). The formulated hypotheses were: there would be no differences between the data of these groups (h0) and there would be differences between the data of these groups (h1). For qualitative nominal variables, frequency distribution was verified and association tests were performed (chi-square test). The significance level for this study was set at 5%. We observed that orthodontic treatments were found in about 13% of the CEO. Regarding human resources, most professionals were specialists or had MSc or PhD degrees; were civil servants; had been hired by direct administration; or had been hired via public tender. Regarding the work process and inclusion of the CEO in the health care network, we observed a greater number of services that use single and electronic medical records, greater presence of services monitoring and analyzing goals, greater knowledge about monthly average of absenteeism (for 2018); and larger number of services with referrals from primary health care centers (for 2014). Expanding the view on orthodontics and including preventive, interceptive, and corrective treatments at different points in health care networks are essential strategies for achieving comprehensive care in universal health systems.

Influence of head and linear growth on the development of malocclusion at six years of age: a cohort study.

The aim of this article was to evaluate the influence of biological and sociobehavioral factors on the development of malocclusions in children. This is a cross-sectional study nested in a cohort of 350 children who participated in a community intervention study. After six years, an active search identified 290 children with occlusal abnormalities. Socioeconomic status, linear growth, and nutritional status of the child at birth and at the time of measurement, as well as dietary and sucking habits, were investigated. Malocclusions were evaluated across three spatial planes - anteroposterior, vertical, and transverse. The prevalence of these anomalies was 64.5%, primarily in the anteroposterior plane. The logistic regression analysis revealed that pacifier use for 60 months or more, stunting as measured at age six, and reduced gain in head circumference from birth to six years of age, were significantly associated with the development of malocclusion in childhood. Head circumference and linear growth are associated with occlusal anomalies in infants, independent of pacifier sucking.

Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Dentists in One of the Poorest Brazilian States: A Cross-Sectional Study

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dentists' income and to identify associated factors in one of the poorest Brazilian states. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study including dentists who volunteered to answer an electronic questionnaire in Maranhão. Hierarchical multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed, estimating crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) (alpha=5%). Results: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the professionals´ income negatively [55.44% (50.26-60.52%)] and also positively [6.9% (4.55-9.94%)]. The negative impact on income was greater among male dentists (OR=2.54; 95%CI: 1.16-5.53), over 30 years of age (OR=3.03; 95%CI: 1.34-6.87), with family income below two minimum wages (OR=4.63; 95%CI: 1.50-14.30), who worked in the continent instead of in the capital island (OR=2.21; 95%CI: 1.14-4.29) and in the private sector (OR=31.43; 95%CI: 11.59-85.22). Moreover, those who had been tested for COVID-19, with a negative result, had a 21.3-fold greater chance of having an increased household income when compared to those who had not been tested. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the dentists' income in Maranhão, especially the older, males, with lower incomes, and who worked in the private sector, living far from the capital. The SUS played an important role in the social protection of dentists during the COVID-19 pandemic, mitigating the economic impacts on the public sector working class.

Toothache and tooth extraction as reasons for dental visits: an analysis of the 2019 National Health Survey

Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of dental visits due to toothache and tooth extraction in Brazil and its association with individual and contextual variables. This two-step cross-sectional study included persons aged 18 years and older in the 2019 National Health Survey who had visited a dentist in the 12 months prior to the interview (n = 40,369). The individual-level outcome was having a dental visit due to toothache or tooth extraction. The ecological-level outcome was the proportion of dental visits for these reasons relative to all dental visits by Brazilian state. Associations with individual - sociodemographic characteristics, number of teeth, and type of health service used - and ecological variables - HDI and dental service coverage - were assessed using Poisson regressions. The prevalence of dental visits due to toothache or extraction was higher among individuals with no formal education, household income < 25% of the minimum wage, of black and brown skin color, living in rural areas, who consulted in the public health system, with 10-19 and 1-9 teeth, and men. The proportion of dental visits due to toothache/extraction in Brazilian states was negatively associated with the HDI and the rate of dental emergency team/100,000 inhabitants and positively associated with primary dental care coverage. The prevalence of dental visits due to toothache/extraction was associated with individual and ecological characteristics, indicating inequities in reasons for dental visits in Brazil. The potential of a well-structured oral health care network to overcome these inequities is suggested and needs to be better explored.

Observatório de Saúde Bucal/UFPE: ações estratégicas de gestão da informação e de saúde digital em saúde bucal para melhoria da governança no SUS / Oral Health Observatory/UFPE: strategic information management and digital health actions in oral health to improve governance in SUS

O programa de extensão Observatório de Saúde Bucal (OSB/UFPE) objetiva a gestão da informação e desenvolvimento de ferramentas digitais para amelhoria da governança na saúde bucal no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), por meiodo desenvolvimento de pesquisa-ensino-extensão. Atualmente, abriga dois projetos: (1) Saúde Digital­desenvolvimento de ferramentas eletrônicas para avaliação de serviços e programas de saúde­e (2) Gestão da Informação em Saúde Bucal. A execução das ações tem caráter remoto, nas plataformas digitais e presenciais no Laboratório de Gestão da Informação em Saúde Bucal. Para cada projeto,visandomelhorar a qualificação dos atores envolvidos, tem havidoseminários, cursos e eventos, bem como a disponibilização de produtos técnicos e científicos: pesquisas com estudantes de graduação e pós-graduação; elaboração e divulgaçãodeboletins analíticos de serviços de saúde; desenvolvimento e uso de ferramentas de saúde digital.O OSB constituiu-secomo umarede colaborativa de trabalho com agentes múltiplosda academia(docentes, graduandos, residentes, mestrandos e mestres da área de Saúde Coletiva e Informática) e do serviço (gestores municipais e estadual, gerentes, profissionais e usuários dos serviços odontológicos do SUS),os quais se articulam sistematicamente para implementação das ações desenvolvidas conjuntamente. A operacionalização deste programa tem promovido a integraçãocom oserviço, visando à melhoria das práticas da gestãoe da atuação de profissionais nessa áreae tem contribuídoparaa tomada de decisão ágil e oportuna, pautada na evidência científica, possibilitando melhoria de qualidade e promoção de saúde (AU).

The Oral Health Observatory extension program (OSB/UFPE) aims to manage information and develop digital tools that improve the governance in oral health in the Unified Health System (SUS), through the development of research-teaching-extension. It currently shelters two projects: (1) Digital Health ­development of electronic tools for the evaluation of services and health programs ­and (2) Oral Health Information Management. The execution of these actions has a remote nature, in digital platforms and on-site at the Oral Health Information Management Laboratory. Aiming to improve the qualification of the actors involved, there has been seminars, courses, and events for each project, as well as the provision of technical and scientific products: research with undergraduate and post-graduate students; elaboration and dissemination of analytical newsletters for health services; development and use of digital health tools. The OSB is a collaborative support work network with multiple academic representatives (professors, undergraduates, residents, masters, and masters in the field of Public Health and Informatics) and services (city and state administrators, managers, professionals, and users of the dental services of the SUS), in which systematically coordinate to implement actions developed collectively. The operationalization of this program has promoted the integration with the service, aiming the improvement of management practices and the practice of professional in this field and has contributed to rapid and timely decision-making, guided on scientific evidence, enabling the improvement of the quality and promotion of health (AU).

Atenção odontológica especializada para pessoas com deficiência no Brasil: perfil dos centros de especialidades odontológicas, 2014 / Atención odontológica especializada para personas con discapacidad en Brasil: perfil de los centros de especialidades odontológicas, 2014 / Specialized dental care for people with disabilities in Brazil: profile of the Dental Specialty Centers, 2014

Objetivo: Descrever os serviços de atenção à saúde bucal para pessoas com deficiência, atendidas pela especialidade Odontologia para Pacientes com Necessidades Especiais (PNE). Métodos: Estudo transversal, com dados do Programa de Melhoria do Acesso e Qualidade dos Centros de Especialidades Odontológicas (PMAQ-CEO), 2014. Resultados: Dos 932 serviços avaliados, 89,8% contavam com atendimento a PNEs, 30,4% apresentavam acessibilidade física e 59,7% contavam com referência para atendimento hospitalar. A maioria garantia tratamento completo. São disponibilizadas 40h semanais de atendimento clínico a PNEs em 1/3 dos CEOs. Conclusão: A rede de cuidado para pessoas com deficiência encontra-se em formação e, apesar dos incentivos financeiros específicos, apresenta limitações. Os serviços precisam eliminar barreiras físicas e atitudinais para garantir acessibilidade universal. Protocolos baseados em classificação de risco são necessários, priorizando atendimento no CEO dos casos complexos, não atendidos na Atenção Básica e organizando a rede de cuidados em saúde bucal da pessoa com deficiência.

Objetivo: Describir los servicios de atención a la salud bucal para personas con discapacidad, atendidos por la especialidad Odontología para Pacientes con Necesidades Especiales (PNE). Métodos: Estudio transversal, con datos del Programa de Mejora del Acceso y Calidad de los Centros de Especialidades Odontológicas (PMAC-CEO), 2014. Resultados: Se evaluaron 932 servicios: 89,8% contaba con atención a los PNEs, 30,4% tenía accesibilidad física y 59,7% tenía referencia para atención hospitalaria. La mayoría garantía tratamiento completo. Sólo 1/3 ofrecían 40hs semanales de atención PNE. Conclusión: La red de atención para personas con discapacidades se está formando, y a pesar de los incentivos financieros específicos, tiene limitaciones. Los servicios necesitan eliminar las barreras físicas y de actitud para garantizar la accesibilidad universal. Protocolos basados en clasificación de riesgo son necesarios, priorizando la atención en el CEO de los casos complejos, no atendidos en la atención básica y organizando la red de atención en salud bucal de la persona con discapacidad.

Objective: To describe the oral health care services for people with disabilities treated within the Dentistry for Patients with Special Needs (PSN) specialty. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with data from the Program for Improving Access and Quality of Dental Specialty Centers (PMAQ-CEO) in 2014. Results: Of the total of 932 services evaluated, 89.8% did provide care for PSNs, 30.4% had physical accessibility, 59.7% provided referral to hospital care and most guaranteed complete treatment. Only a third of the Dental Specialty Centers planned 40 or more hours a week for providing clinical care to PSNs. Conclusion: The care network for people with disabilities is being formed but, even with specific financial incentives, it has limitations. Services need to eliminate physical and attitudinal barriers to ensure universal accessibility. Protocols based on risk classification are necessary, prioritizing care at DSCs for complex cases not attended to in Primary Care and organizing the dental health care network for people with disabilities.

Characterization of Dental Surgeons of Pernambuco State in the COVID-19 Pandemic Context: Preliminary Data

Abstract Objective: To present the results of preliminary research on the characterization of dental surgeons in the state of Pernambuco, during a pandemic of COVID-19. Material and Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and exploratory study, whose population was composed of dental surgeons with active enrollment in the Regional Dentistry Council of Pernambuco. Data collection was performed using an electronic form and included characterization of professionals (gender, age, time since graduation, marital status, family income and field of work) and health status (vaccination schedule, presence of comorbidities, biosafety knowledge and testing for COVID-19). Preliminary data correspond to the first week of collection, which were analyzed from the frequency, proportions, and measures of central tendency distributions. Results: Of the 363 dental surgeons, for the field of work, 38.6% work in both the public and private sectors. Comorbidities related to the worsening of COVID-19 were identified in 35.0% of participants, 24.5% are not up to date with influenza and hepatitis vaccines, and 79.3% have not been tested for COVID-19. Regarding the biosafety instructions for COVID-19, 30.7% received no training. Conclusion: It is necessary to immunize dental surgeons to prevent immunological diseases and expansion of the testing capacity for COVID-19, especially for professionals belonging to the risk group. In addition to guaranteeing the offer of qualification courses on biosafety, which is essential for the safe resumption of activities.

Cuidados em saúde bucal a crianças e adolescentes com paralisia cerebral: percepção de pais e cuidadores / Oral health care for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: perceptions of parents and caregivers

Resumo Objetivou-se avaliar os cuidados em saúde bucal de crianças/adolescentes com Paralisia Cerebral (PC) segundo a gravidade, através da percepção dos pais/cuidadores. Estudo série de casos realizado em serviços de saúde de Pernambuco com 94 mães/cuidadores de sujeitos com PC entre 5 e 18 anos. Avaliaram-se fatores socioeconômicos, demográficos, cuidados em saúde bucal e uso de serviços odontológicos (SO). O Sistema de Classificação da Função Motora Grossa mostrou 67% com comprometimento motor grave. Indivíduos com PC grave tiveram frequência significantemente maior de pertencerem a famílias com renda mais baixa (89%, p < 0,001), residirem no interior (44%, p < 0,005), terem dificuldades de transporte (60%, p = 0,04) e acessibilidade aos SO (88%, p = 0,009) e maior necessidade de higiene bucal (67%, p = 0,008) realizada pelas mães (94%, p < 0,001). Apesar das barreiras de acesso aos SO, o mesmo foi facilitado para aqueles com PC grave, com uso precoce dos SO, mas com baixa oferta de dentistas e de humanização. Esses resultados informam problemas relacionados aos cuidados diários em saúde bucal, contexto de vida das famílias, de apoio institucional e de qualidade dos SO a serem enfrentados com políticas públicas socioeconômicas e de saúde integrais inclusivas e equânimes.

Abstract The aim was to evaluate the oral health care of children/adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP) according to severity through the perceptions of parents/caregivers. A case series study was conducted at health services in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil with 94 mothers/caregivers of subjects with CP from 5 and 18 years old. Sociodemographic factors, oral health care and use of dental services (DS) were evaluated. The Gross Motor Function Classification System showed 67% with severe motor impairment. Subjects with severe CP had significantly higher frequencies of belonging to families with lower income (89%, p < 0.001), living in the interior (44%, p < 0.005), having transportation difficulties (60%, p = 0.04), difficulty regarding access to DS (88%, p = 0.009) and a greater need for oral hygiene (67%, p = 0.008), which was performed exclusively by the caregiver (94%, p < 0.001). Despite identified access barriers, dental care was facilitated for those with severe CP, early DS use, but low availability of dentists and low degree of humanization were cited as major problems. These results reveal problems related to daily oral health care, family living context, institutional support and quality of DS that should be addressed in comprehensive, inclusive, equitable social and economic public policies.

[Association between social capital and oral health conditions and behavior]. / Associação entre capital social, condições e comportamentos de saúde bucal.

The theory of social capital seeks to explain social inequality in health through the interaction of social, economic and environmental factors and has been associated with many health problems, though there is still little research in the area of oral health. The scope of this study was to evaluate the association between social capital and socio-demographic and behavioral factors related to oral health among schoolchildren aged from 15 to 19. A random sample of 1,417 adolescents filled out a self-administered survey and the data were descriptively analyzed (simple frequencies, central tendency and variability measurement) and inferential statistics (Pearson's chi-square test). The results showed that the social capital which is more prevalent among adolescents was intermediate level, as well as between each of its dimensions, except for social action where the majority were classified as lower-leveled. Among the variables analyzed, social capital was statistically associated only with sex, with women being more likely to be classified under the 'low social capital' label. This area still needs considerable research to increase theoretical-conceptual and methodological maturity in order to better understand the social contexts that are essential for formulating effective public health policies.

Influence of head and linear growth on the development of malocclusion at six years of age: a cohort study

Abstract The aim of this article was to evaluate the influence of biological and sociobehavioral factors on the development of malocclusions in children. This is a cross-sectional study nested in a cohort of 350 children who participated in a community intervention study. After six years, an active search identified 290 children with occlusal abnormalities. Socioeconomic status, linear growth, and nutritional status of the child at birth and at the time of measurement, as well as dietary and sucking habits, were investigated. Malocclusions were evaluated across three spatial planes - anteroposterior, vertical, and transverse. The prevalence of these anomalies was 64.5%, primarily in the anteroposterior plane. The logistic regression analysis revealed that pacifier use for 60 months or more, stunting as measured at age six, and reduced gain in head circumference from birth to six years of age, were significantly associated with the development of malocclusion in childhood. Head circumference and linear growth are associated with occlusal anomalies in infants, independent of pacifier sucking.

[Race and the use of dental health services by the elderly]. / Raça e o uso dos serviços de saúde bucal por idosos.

We analyze if race can be considered a limiting factor in the use of dental services by the elderly. This study is of an analytical nature, with the use of secondary data collected by the National Survey of Oral Health in 2003. Those examined who declared themselves as being white, brown or black in the 65 to 74-year-old age bracket were included. The sample was composed of 5,108 elderly people: 2,575 whites and 2,533 blacks. Of the whites, 3.8% stated that they had never been to the dentist, while this figure was 7.8% for the blacks. Even after the adjustment for interception for prosthetics and dental pain, the chance of elderly blacks not having used dental services at least once in their life is 0.62 OR less than for elderly whites. Of those who used the services, 21.2% of the elderly whites visited the dentist in the last year, while for elderly blacks the figure was 14.2%, in the adjusted model for interception for prosthetics and dental pain the OR was 0.60. All the relations were statistically significant (p<0,001). Race is a limiting factor in the use of dental services by the elderly and even after the adjustments the elderly blacks continue to manifest greater resistance to the use of oral health services.

[Epidemiological profile of emergency care for dental and oral injuries in Brazil, 2006-2007]. / Perfil epidemiológico dos atendimentos de emergência por lesões bucodentais decorrentes de causas externas, Brasil, 2006 e 2007.

Injuries resulting from accidents and violence occupy a key place in the current epidemiological scenario. The head and face are one of the main sites of lesions from external causes, especially dental and oral injuries. This article aims to present the epidemiological profile of emergency care for dental and oral lesions from external causes. The study used data from the Surveillance System for Violence and Accidents (VIVA) for the years 2006 and 2007. There were a total of 106,075 emergency visits involving external causes, of which 939 (~1%) presented dental and oral lesions. There were a majority or large proportions of males (65.5%), children < 10 years (44.3%), black individuals (66%), and individuals with low schooling (45.9%). High proportions of the injuries occurred at home (48.3%) or on public byways (30%). Frequent characteristics were cuts or puncture wounds (63.3%) and lesions resulting from falls (43%), traffic accidents (19.9%), and physical assault (13%).

[Evaluation of secondary care in oral health: a study of specialty clinics in Brazil]. / Avaliação da atenção secundária em saúde bucal: uma investigação nos centros de especialidades do Brasil.

This article discusses the evaluation of secondary care in the area of health surveillance. This was a descriptive and normative/evaluative study. Performance analysis drew on secondary data, based on a historical series of dental procedures conducted at the specialized dental clinics implemented in Brazil and recorded by the Outpatient Information System of the Unified National Health System (SIA/SUS) in 2007, as well as primary data from site visits to the clinics, based on questionnaires completed by clinic staff. Performance of the clinics was poor in most regions of the country, and the North of Brazil had the lowest percentage of specialty services implemented. The indicator "Performance of Secondary Care in Oral Health" was 64.4%. The type 3 specialty clinics showed better results in terms of performance and achievement of targets. The study showed the need to review the legal framework for implementing specialized dental clinics by adjusting the criteria and norms, as well as definition of new standards for achievement of goals in the evaluation and monitoring of these services.