Insertion of dentists in hospital settings: A cross-sectional study of hospitals in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Hospital dentistry is the set of actions related to prevention and diagnosis, therapeutic and palliative actions in oral health, aiming at comprehensive care for hospitalized patients. Objective: To verify the presence of dentists in hospitals in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, and to verify the oral hygiene protocols carried out in the hospitals. Methodology: Observational, cross-sectional study of data collection through the application of a questionnaire. The sample comprised 322 hospitals, registered on the National Registry of Health Establishments platform, in 2022. A questionnaire containing 14 questions was applied, through an online platform. Data were categorized and descriptive analysis was performed. Results: Of the registered hospitals, 93 (28.9%) participated in the study, of which 17 (18.3%) claimed to have a dental surgeon on the team. Of the hospitals that do not have a dental service, 50% reported that the oral care of patients is under the responsibility of the nursing team. The frequency of oral hygiene care in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was reported by 63 hospitals, with 44.4% of these not performing oral hygiene for hospitalized patients once a day, and 33.3% performing it 3 times a day. When only institutions with dental services were evaluated, this frequency ranged from 2 to 3 times a day in 65% of these hospitals. Conclusion: The lack of dental staff in the participating hospitals is evident. Most of the procedures performed in the hospital environment were performed by professionals from areas other than Dentistry.