Abstract
Introduction
Oral health in primary health care, with qualified dental professionals in this field, has been described as a promising strategy to promote health.
Objective
To identify and describe intersectoral articulations, and their contributions to dental professional education, and oral health of children from a city of São Paulo - Brazil.
Material and method
Field research, cross-sectional, mixed approach and interventionist character. Secondary data were obtained from medical records and reports of dental interns. Dental visits were performed to 455 children from the basic education system and eight interviews with the family members of the children who missed the visits. Descriptive statistics, with simple frequency and percentage, and Content Analysis were used for qualitative data.
Result
It was found that 42% of the children were at high risk for caries disease. Traumas, fears and poor knowledge of oral hygiene of children and parents had a negative influence on oral health care. In the dental office the weaknesses pointed out by family members were professional unpreparedness, ranging from technical issues to forms of personal approach.
Conclusion
It is concluded that the practice in primary health care brought the students closer to social reality, expanded and diversified the teaching-learning scenarios with longer time for health education. However, there is a need for further research on effective curriculum experiences in this area.
Descriptors:
Primary health care; inter-sectoral collaboration; family health strategy; health education; access to health services