The oral health care system in Brazil

The new Brazilian health system, the Unified Health System (SUS), is based on a health team (Family health team), who are responsible for a specific population. The implementation of this health team has happen gradually and only in 2006 the participation of dentist has happened in Fortaleza, which is the 5^th largest city in the country and one of the first ones to have dentists in the family health team. The city of Fortaleza (2.5 million habitants) has actually 90 health units and 250 family health teams. Objective: This work evaluates the perception of health care users regarding the work provided by these dentists. Methods: Questionnaires were applied to health care users  inside and outside health care units–population covered by the ESF. The questionnaires had socio-economic questions, as well as questions regarding Donabedian’s  components of quality: efficacy, effectiveness, efficiency, optimality, acceptability, legitimacy and equity.  Results: 398 individuals were interviewed (198 inside and 190 outside the unit). The majority (72,9%) were woman, and only 3,9% had university degree (4,2% didn’t know how to read or write, 16,1% had less than 2 years of formal education). 48,1% of the families had less than U$ 215,00 as monthly income. 84,8% believed that dental treatment improved after ESF were implemented. 78,9% had their dental problems solved at the unit and an average note of 8,3 was given to the treatment provided.  33% had difficulties to book a dental appointment. 94,7% believed that dentists who work at the ESF were well trained, and 63,3% agree that there is a good communication between dentists, doctors and nurses of the ESF, improving the quality of the treatment provided. Conclusion: Health care users believe that dental treatment provided at health care unit have improved after ESF were implemented and are satisfied with the quality of their work.