This profile of public dental care for children/adolescents in São Luís, Maranhão State, Brazil, is based on a survey conducted through interviews, designed to identify these services and help upgrade Health Services available in this city. It describes the pediatric dental care available and the age groups attended, the qualifications of the practitioners involved, the types of treatment for primary and permanent teeth and oral health education programs run at the Municipal Healthcare Units with dental facilities, analyzed through visits and structured interviews. The findings show that dental care was available for children/adolescents (mainly between 6 and 12 years old) at 91.1% of the Healthcare Units offering daily and universal care (65.75%), as well as at those whose services are limited to certain specialties and/or specific days (34.15%). All the public Healthcare Units offered surgical treatment for permanent teeth. Fillings are used more for permanent teeth than primary teeth. Among the public Healthcare Units, 25 (55.5%) did not offer or run oral health programs. At most (75.5%) of the Units visited, dental treatment for children and adolescents is limited to basic care and directed mainly to permanent teeth. The traditional welfare model of providing care as freely demanded remains in place.
Dental care; Public health; Pediatric dentistry
