255. Dentists complain oral health program in schools

The program of oral health promotion in schools, the Directorate General of Health want to evaluate before proceeding with dental checks for children, invites criticism of dentists who advocate a reorganization of the project.

Reviews were forwarded to the bank of the Congress of Dentists Association, held in November, one of the representatives of the Dental Association in the group of analysis of the oral health, Paulo Rompante. The basic and essential step of this program is to promote the daily brushing at school, which is not being done in most institutions.

"As the program is designed only entitled to access to the other stages of the program, schools that promoted daily brushing, no program works is that brushing is not promoted," commented the expert. The argument advanced by some schools that are unable to promote oral health can not be accepted among dentists. "If a school is unable to do this, then almost better to close the school ', it Frias Bulhosa, another element of the Order who participated in the analysis group has made proposals to the Minister of Health.

Especially because, says the expert, to brush your teeth is not sufficient that students have a toothbrush and toothpaste, and the use of water to be dispensed with. Along with brushing, the schools included in the program of oral health promoting fluoride administration every two weeks between their students.

After this, should be selected children who must put sealant on the teeth - a plastic material that is used to prevent cavities. But again there are flaws in the program conducted in schools, dentists say. This is because, before the sealant, it is necessary to detect whether the child is already developing tooth decay, which should be done by a dentist, which is not present at school.

"The selection of children is not always done by qualified professionals. Currently it is most often done by school health teams, which often do not even have a dental hygienist, "argued Paulo Rompante. The doctor stressed that caries is a disease "infectious and contagious', the diagnosis should be made by the dentist.

For the doctor Frias Bulhosa, one of the shortcomings of oral health has to do with the lack of follow-up. "A child of four, five or six years you can get in a given year in the program, but then again not being monitored. The child is not followed in subsequent years, "he lamented.

Diário Digital

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Anyway, if that is how the state treats children in the country ...