TELEODONTOLOGY IN PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND CARE IN THE CONTEXT OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN BRAZIL

• Autor(a) principal: Strey, Jéssica Rodriguez
• Data de Publicação: 2024
• Outros Autores: Toassi, Ramona Fernanda Ceriotti
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Saberes Plurais: Educação na saúde
• Texto Completo: https://seer.ufrgs.br/index.php/saberesplurais/article/view/135603
• topic: Assistência Odontológica; Atenção Primária à Saúde; Educação em Odontologia; Sistema Único de Saúde; Teleodontologia; Dental Care; Primary Health Care; Education, Dental; Unified Health System; Teledenstistry; Atención Odontológica; Atención Primaria de Salud; Educación en Odontología; Sistema Único de Salud; Teleodontología

Objective: To analyze the use of teledentistry in Primary Health Care (PHC), from the perspective of professional education and health care in Brazil. Method: An integrative literature review was carried out by consulting the Virtual Health Library (VHL) and National Library of Medicine (PubMed) databases. Descriptors controlled by the Dictionary of Health Sciences Descriptors were combined, in Portuguese and English (teleodontologia/teledentistry, Brasil/Brazil, Atenção Primária à Saúde/Primary Health Care; educação/education; assistência odontológica/dental care). The inclusion criteria included scientific articles (essays, editorials, comments, literature reviews, experience/case reports, empirical research) related to the study topic, published from 2007 to March 2022. Duplicate publications, letters and academic works were excluded. Results: 17 articles were analyzed, published from 2008 to 2021. The results showed teledentistry used in PHC in tele-education actions (distance courses, videoconferences), telediagnosis (diagnosis of oral lesions), teleconsultations (supporting health professionals in queries and referrals), patient telemonitoring and teleconsultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its use was associated with strengthening PHC, increasing health resolution, coordination of referrals and access to health services for patients living in rural areas. Lack of training, professionals' resistance to the use of information and communication technologies, limited internet access, infrastructure weaknesses and issues related to patient safety were identified barriers related to the use of teledentistry. Conclusion: Teledentistry was a tool used and valued in the context of oral health care in PHC for professionals and patients, expanding access and being effective in reducing referrals to dental specialties. It has potential for growth and expansion in the Brazilian Unified Health System, as long as the barriers are considered.