THE ROLE OF THE DENTIST IN THE FAMILY HEALTH STRATEGY

Abstract

The dentist plays a strategic role in consolidating primary care within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), especially within the Family Health Strategy (ESF). The integration of this professional into multidisciplinary teams has broadened the scope of actions promoting, preventing, and restoring oral health, contributing to continuous, humanized, and territorially-based care. The dentist's role in the ESF transcends clinical care, assuming educational, community, and intersectoral functions, essential for improving health indicators and reducing inequalities in access to dental services. In the daily routine of the ESF, the dentist develops actions that include effective clinical care, welcoming, qualified listening, and longitudinal follow-up of assigned families. In addition, they participate in collective activities, such as educational groups, home visits, epidemiological surveys, and identification of environmental, behavioral, and socioeconomic risk factors that impact oral health. Collaboration with community agents and other members of the health team strengthens the planning of more effective interventions focused on the real needs of the population. Another relevant aspect is the promotion of health education, which seeks to empower individuals and communities for self-care, disease prevention, and the adoption of healthy habits. In this context, the dentist contributes significantly to actions directed at schoolchildren, pregnant women, the elderly, and vulnerable groups, establishing bonds that favor continuity of care. The comprehensive approach also includes the recognition of social determinants of health, allowing for proactive action in situations of greater vulnerability. The presence of the dentist in the Family Health Strategy (ESF) reinforces the importance of oral health as an inseparable part of general health, broadening the understanding that oral conditions directly impact quality of life, school performance, nutrition, self-esteem, and productivity. Thus, the professional assumes a central role in consolidating a care model based on comprehensiveness, humanized care, and the promotion of equity. In summary, their work not only improves dental care but also strengthens the entire logic of Primary Care, contributing to a more effective, inclusive, and population-oriented Unified Health System (SUS).