Oral health work in the SUS: challenges and perspectives

The article analyzes dental work in the Brazilian Unified Health System, identifies its general characteristics and explores possibilities about what this work should be. The analytical reference is law 14,572/2023, which instituted a National Oral Health Policy in Brazil, and the final reports of the three national oral health conferences, held in 1986, 1993, and 2004. A conceptual map was created organizing and articulating strategic concepts, such as oral health needs, dental care, collective actions in oral health and oral health care, and the mission assigned to this policy of social production of oral health. Three challenges are identified for this word: its financing, the change in the oral health care model and the change in the work process. The perspectives are closely linked to the directions of this policy in each municipality. It concludes by recognizing the strategic role that maintains public control over oral health work, so that it is sustainable and generates changes in the care model.

Keywords:
oral health; health work; dental public health; dentistry; Brazilian Unified Health System