The perception of oral health of the population of Coimbra, Minas Gerais

Abstract

The present study has searched to identify how the community from Coimbra, Minas Gerais, Brazil, has perceived Oral Health. This community has been assisted by Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Semi-structured interviews had been designed with questions about oral health concept, importance and presence inpatient’s daily cares. After that it was carried a comparative analysis between patient and dentist perceptions. It was observed that interviewers had related Oral Health to teeth and gum care and regular dental visit. In this way, the relevancy of such perception was not linket only to Systemic also Aesthetic Health, once the presence or Oral Health procedures contributed to dentition preservation and can can avoid or reduce usage of dental prostheses. Also, it was noted differences between patient’s perception and his/her real clinical condition according his/her real clinical odontological prontuary.