This qualitative study aimed to investigate, through individual and group interviews, the teaching-service integration between a public university in southern Brazil and the public health services. The data were analyzed following the Thematic Content Analysis. Two thematic axes and four categories emerged. The thematic axis called Activator grouped aspects developed in the program, and the axis under Construction revealed the difficulties that were observed. The identified categories were: Teaching-Service Partnership; Curricular Structure; Paradigm Change; and Teaching Practices. It was concluded that the participants understand the teaching-service integration as a potential strategy that can contribute to the process of change of practices in health education, although there are resistant groups. The curricular restructuring collaborated to develop new actions in education, as well as to improve the teaching and service integration.
Teaching-care integration services; Dental education; Dental staff
