The objective of this study was to analyze the administrative and operational aspects of Oral Health Teams (OHT) at the Family Health Program (FHP) in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Two types of questionnaire were sent to 310 cities, and 53.5% were answered until June/2004. From the total of the respondents, 66.9% reported unstable forms of hiring and 82.5% of the dental surgeons receive wage 9 times lower than minimum wage for full-time job (8 hours); 75.9% of the cities presented an average of 4000 inhabitants for OHT. In average, 79.6% of all OHTs attended all ages group; 48.9% of dental surgeons reported not having participated in any of the courses offered. The integration between OH and FHP teams could be seen in 76.2 %, however only 54% organize regular meetings. The positive points observed were that FHP teams follow the principle of universality, the eight-hour shift and the quantitative extension allowing a higher access to oral health services. As negative points, it was observed the lack of qualification of the OHT, the excessive demand, the precarious work relations and the lack of involvement between OH and FH teams.
Oral health team; Family Health Program; Universality
