Advancing oral health policy through persuasive messaging and effective research measures

Author(s):  
Jacqueline M. Burgette ◽  
Marko Vujicic ◽  
Meg Booth ◽  
David Meltzer ◽  
Thomas J. Best ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Helena Rodrigues Galvão ◽  
Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli

Abstract Background This study aimed to assess the trend in income-related inequalities in oral health services utilization by the Brazilian population from 1998 to 2013. This period represents a timeline that includes different stages of implementation of the National Oral Health Policy. Methods The design was based on repeated cross-sectional surveys using secondary data from household-based studies carried out in Brazil in 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2013. The dependent variable was “having access to a dentist appointment at least once in a lifetime (yes/no).” Monthly household per capita income, based on Brazil’s minimum wage, was included as the main independent variable. To measure the inequalities in oral health access related to economic position, the following complex indexes based on regression were used: (a) the slope index of inequality (SII) and (b) the relative index of inequality (RII). Results There was a reduction in the percentage of individuals who never had a dentist appointment for all age groups and income classifications. In general, there was a reduction trend in absolute inequality for all age groups (p < 0.001). The relative inequality and reduction trend were different between the age groups studied. Conclusions The National Oral Health Policy was very important for expanding free of charge, public access to dental appointment. However, despite policy implementation, there continues to be high levels of inequality in access to dental consultation. Assessing which strategies are necessary to overcome this challenge is discussed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aline Guerra Aquilante ◽  
Geovani Gurgel Aciole

This paper is a case study on the implementation of the Brazilian National Oral Health Policy (PNSB), known as "Smiling Brazil", in the cities of the Regional Health Department of Araraquara (DRS III) in São Paulo State. A structured questionnaire was given to the municipal oral health coordinators, an interview with oral health care professionals and managers was conducted, and the official data provided by the Brazilian Ministry of Health were coded to assess the policy's scope: (i) expansion and qualification of actions; (ii) work conditions; (iii) care; (iv) access; and (v) planning and management. The quantitative and qualitative analyses were linked by methods triangulation. In terms of PNSB implementation, the majority of the cities (52.6%) were classified as "good", with 42.1% classified as "bad". Approximately 10 years after launching the PNSB, despite strides in oral health care and access to different levels of care, the cities still experience difficulties in implementing the policy's principles.


BMJ Leader ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-86
Author(s):  
Valerie Wordley ◽  
Raman Bedi

Dental leadership is essential in addressing the crisis of 21st century dentistry. The Senior Dental Leaders programme was established in 2006 and has since influenced global oral health policy. The programme demonstrates how collaborative leadership and an engaged alumni network can produce successful dental leaders, significantly impacting upon child oral health around the world. There is now a great need for leadership development programmes at every level of dental training.


Gerodontology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 245-246
Author(s):  
Michael MacEntee

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Ramos da Cunha ◽  
Taiane Schaedler Prass ◽  
Fernando Neves Hugo

Abstract: The objective was to investigate if there is an association between the mortality rates due to oral and oropharyngeal cancer in Brazil and the expansion of access to public primary and specialized dental care services that resulted from the implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, between 2000 and 2013. The mortality data were obtained from the records of the Mortality Information System and the exposure variables were obtained from databases of the Brazilian Ministry of Health and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The main exposures investigated were “coverage of primary dental care” and “number of specialized dental care centers”. Additional covariates included “Gini index of household income”, “average number of years of study”, “proportion of unemployed people” and “proportion of smokers”. For the statistical analysis, a random coefficient model was used. There was a statistically significant association between the mortality rates by oral and oropharyngeal cancer with coverage by primary dental care and the number of specialized dental care centers with males. This study found that the expansion of the coverage of primary dental care and the number of specialized dental care centers are associated with the reduction of mortality rates due to oral and oropharyngeal cancer in Brazil. There is plausibility for the association found, which needs to be confirmed by implementation studies.


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