The embracement of oral health users in the Family Health Strategy, Fortaleza-CE: an experience practice

Abstract

In the context of teaching-service integration, the embracement of oral health users started from March 25^th, 2008 in a Family Health Center (CSF), in the city of Fortaleza-Ce; due to the great need of organizing the working process in dental service and to improve the relationship between the oral health team (ESB) and the users. The embracement process is divided into three stages. At first, its aim is explained to all presents and with them the criteria are accorded to define the order of priority for the service. After what, adults and children are divided into different spaces and in small groups, for whom health education activities are conducted. In a second moment, the oral health examination is carried out. The students and dentists are divided into pairs. Each patient is examined and classified according to the risk that he/she is exposed to. This information is registered in a card, which, after being stamped and signed, is delivered to the patient. In a third stage, with the card, the user goes to other room to schedule the consultation, if necessary. Between March and November, 2008, 2,385 users were seen, of whom 404 (16.9 %) did not present any need (0 risk), 870 (36.4 %) would have their need resolved with one single consultation (emergency care), 654 (27.4 %) presented multiple needs (1 risk), 133 (5.5 %) had intermediate needs (2 risk) and 324 (13.5 %) small needs. As we add up the values of 0 risk and emergency care, we identified that 53.3% of the users would have their dental needs resolved either at the embracement itself or within a single clinical consultation. This analysis is very much important for the service, for it points out for the need of rearranging the working process.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />