Dentistry In Brazil Research Articles

DENTISTRY IN HOSPITALS: Inclusion and the importance of dental surgeons in intensive care units in Brazil

Hospital dentistry is currently of great importance due to the context of socioeconomic inequalities in Brazil, where a significant part of the population cannot afford private dental treatments. This a very important field because socioeconomic inequalities in the country make access to private dental treatments difficult, emphasizing the need for dental care services to be offered in hospitals. The main objective of this study was to highlight the relevance of the dental surgeon and dentists in hospitals, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs), where this professional plays a crucial role in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oral diseases that may interfere with medical treatment and worsen patients’ conditions. This article also explores the advances of hospital dentistry in Brazil and the correlation between oral health and various diseases, stressing the need for proper treatment. The research was conducted through a qualitative literature review in databases such as SciELO, Google Scholar, and PubMed. The literature indicates that the presence of a dentist in the multidisciplinary ICU team is indispensable, especially for treating oral complications related to intubation and extubation. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the role of the hospital dentist became even more crucial, helping to prevent hospital-acquired infections originating from the oral cavity of intubated patients. Thus, this study reinforces the importance of hospital dentistry in Brazil for providing better quality of life for hospitalized patients.

Practices and Perception of Paediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among Orthodontists and Paediatric Dentists in Brazil: A Mixed-Methods Study.

To explore orthodontists' (OTs) and paediatric dentists' (PDs) practices and perceptions regarding the screening and management of paediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This explanatory sequential mixed methods design included OTs and PDs with active clinical practice in Brazil and encompassed a quantitative phase followed by a qualitative phase. In the quantitative phase, a survey assessing OSA screening and management practices was administered to OTs and PDs practicing in Brazil. Information-rich OTs and PDs were interviewed in the qualitative phase. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square test were used to analyse the survey data, while inductive content analysis was applied to the interview data. The results from both phases were integrated and reported narratively. Three hundred eighty-one OTs and PDs completed the survey, and ten of them were interviewed. Nearly half of OTs and PDs administered sleep questionnaires and demonstrated some knowledge about paediatric OSA signs and symptoms. PDs and OTs primarily offered rapid maxillary expansion and functional mandibular advancement for managing selected children with OSA, with OTs being more frequently involved in this task than PDs. OTs and PDs identified several barriers and expressed the need for support regarding access to reliable screening tools and interprofessional care. Brazilian OTs and PDs were aware of the main signs and symptoms of paediatric OSA and were somewhat involved in offering oral appliance management options. To further define the role of these professionals, increasing support for dental professionals in OSA management and updating existing clinical guidelines is warranted.

Estimating the burden of care for oral potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer in Brazilian dental practice.

Oral cancer (OC) and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) pose significant challenges to public health in Brazil. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of oral cancer (OC) and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) among patients who would be treated by Brazilian dentists during their careers. Data on the number of dentists in Brazil were extracted from the 2022 census data, while incidence rates for OC cases were sourced from the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA). Population estimates for Brazil and data on dental check-up rates were obtained from relevant national sources. Our analysis indicates that a general dentist in Brazil can expect to encounter on average two to three OC patients and on average 675 patients with OPMDs over a 35-year career. Regional disparities were observed, with certain regions showing higher than the average number of encounters due to low density of dentists in some rural districts. Brazilian dentists are likely to confront a substantial number of OC and OPMD cases during their professional tenure, emphasizing the need for public health policies aimed at enhancing dental surgeons' education in oral cancer prevention and early detection.

The evolution of inequalities in the distribution of dentists in Brazil

The scope of this article is to analyze the evolution of the distribution of dentists and undergraduate courses in Dentistry in Brazil between 1960 and 2022, based on institutional data and its correlation with economic and demographic data. The proportions between number of dentists and population were calculated for the federative units in different periods, and the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) was used. to determine the concentration of dentists, population and undergraduate courses in Dentistry. The Pearson test was used, with a significance level of 95%, to test the correlation between variables. In the period from 1960 to 2022, the ratio of dentists per 10,000 inhabitants increased from 3.3 to 16.9. Moreover in 2022, the federative units with the highest average household income per capita were closely correlated with the highest concentration of dentists (R2= 0.90; p < 0.00). However, from 1975 to 2022, the concentration of dentists measured by the HHI dropped from 45.1 to 33.4. The decrease in the geographic concentration of Dentistry courses was even more pronounced, with the HHI rising from 39.3 in 1991, to 25.6 in 2022.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the income of dentists in Brazil: a national questionnaire survey

This study aimed to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among Brazilian dentists. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with data from the survey with 40,271 dentists by the Federal Council of Dentistry of Brazil between June 25 and July 3, 2020. The research involved two sets of questions, addressing sociodemographic characteristics and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in dental practice. A total of 65.2% of dentists were women and 49.3% were between 30.1 and 50 years old. Thirty-nine percent graduated in the last 10 years; 58% worked in a private practice (own or shared); 64.3% did not work with dental plans; and 72.2% continued working during the pandemic, but with restrictions. They had income between R$3,001 and R$10,000 (equivalent to US$564.81 to US$1,882.69) before the pandemic, 58% of dentists and 51.6% had income below R$3,000 (US$564.81) during the pandemic. Both before and during the pandemic, younger women (less time since graduation) reported lower income compared to men. The COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable impact on the income of dental surgeons throughout Brazil.

Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the “Child Drawing: Hospital” (CD:H) Scale for Paediatric Dentistry in Brazil

Objective: To translate and perform the cross-cultural adaption of the CD:H scale for use in Paediatric Dentistry in Brazilian Portuguese language. Material and Methods: The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the CD: H was carried out in four stages: 1) translation of the instrument; 2) reverse translation (back translation); 3) cross-cultural adaptation, and 4) face validation. Face validation consisted of the evaluation of 30 subjects from the target population. A pilot study was conducted with 15 children aged 5-10 years treated at a university dental clinic and their drawings were analysed by two dentists. Data were analysed using Stata 12.0. Results: In the face validation, most items were understood; however, some words were changed, and terms were included to identify the dental environment. Good reproducibility was obtained: inter-examiner reliability was 0.9647 and intra-examiner reliability was 0.9619 for examiner A and 0.8260 for examiner B. Conclusion: The Brazilian version of the CD:H scale is a useful tool for dentists, helping identify children's emotions and being enjoyable for them.

Establishing Cephalometric Norms in Primary Dentition Using Comprehensive Craniofacial Growth Analysis - A Digital Cephalometric Study

Establishing Cephalometric Norms in Primary Dentition Using Comprehensive Craniofacial Growth Analysis - A Digital Cephalometric Study

Impact of Smoking on Oral Health-related Quality of Life

The aim of this study was to assess smoking impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). A cross-sectional study was carried out with smokers and non-smokers patients scheduled at a Faculty of Dentistry in Brazil. Sociodemographic data were collected and oral problems impact on quality of life were assessed through “Oral Health Impact Profile-14” (OHIP-14) questionnaire. The World Health Organization criteria were used to assess dental caries and periodontal disease. Data analysis was performed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Two hundred and seven individuals participated in the study, 112 non-smokers and 95 smokers. Most smokers were males (54.25%), the average smoking time was 24.74 ± 14.84 years and 54.72% of them reported smoking more than 11 cigarettes/day. Smokers scored higher values in OHIP-14 (p = 0.026) and in dimensions “functional limitation” (p &lt; 0.001), “psychological discomfort” (p = 0.024) and “psychological disability” (p = 0.047). In addition, smokers had higher percentages of sextants with periodontal pockets (p &lt; 0.001) and moderate to advanced attachment loss (p = 0.029). In short, smokers suffered a greater impact on OHRQoL, in addition to a worse periodontal condition compared to non-smokers.

THE CHALLENGES DENTISTS FACE TO COMMUNICATE CANCER DIAGNOSIS: SELF-ASSESSMENT BASED ON SPIKES PROTOCOL

<h3>Objectives</h3> Developing good communication skills to deliver bad news (DBN) can bring benefits to both patients and professionals. The aim of this study was to characterize the challenges faced by dentists in Brazil when DBN of oral and oropharyngeal cancer diagnoses to patients. A questionnaire based on the guidelines of the SPIKES protocol was used. <h3>Study Design</h3> This is an observational cross-sectional study with application of an online questionnaire. The sample consisted of dentists from Brazil. The questionnaire contained 27 questions based on the SPIKES protocol, which were answered through the SurveyMonkey platform. <h3>Results</h3> A total of 186 dentists answered the questionnaire. The specialties reported were as follows: 36.02% oral medicine, 21.5% oral pathology, 12.36% general practitioner dentists, and 29.03% other. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Dentists who work more often with patients with cancer are more confident in communicating bad news. Despite the percentage of correct survey answers, the heterogeneity of answers among the professionals surveyed suggests that dentists need to improve their communication skills for DBN. Thus, the study reinforces the importance of training dentists in Brazil on how to communicate bad news when patients are diagnosed with oral and oropharyngeal cancer.

Changes in the Profile of Antibiotic Prescriptions by Dentists in Brazil during the Pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people worldwide, including the scientific community, were insecure and fearful. The lack of vaccines at the beginning of the pandemic and the high mortality rate led to a search for alternative treatments for COVID-19. Among these proposals, a postulated activity of azithromycin was frequently studied in early treatment. In view of this, many countries saw an increase in the consumption of this antibiotic. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate, in Brazil, whether there was an increase in azithromycin prescriptions made by dentists, as they may have been prescribing this antibiotic as a probable treatment for COVID-19. This is an interrupted time series that analyzed antimicrobial prescriptions data between January 2014 and July 2021. The data were taken from the National System of Controlled Products Management, and pre- and postpandemic periods were compared. To assess changes in azithromycin consumption, Joinpoint regression and analysis of variance, followed by Dunnett's test, were used. More than 38 million prescriptions written during the period were analyzed. Amoxicillin (72.3%), azithromycin (18.0%), cephalexin (6.1%), and metronidazole (3.58%) were the most prescribed antibiotics. At the beginning of the pandemic, there was a drop in amoxicillin prescriptions motivated by a decrease in consultations, but conversely, in less than three months, azithromycin prescriptions grew by more than 100%. The exaggerated use of this antibiotic during the pandemic will certainly have consequences in the short and medium term on indicators of bacterial resistance. The use of guidelines and respect for the therapeutic protocols of government agencies should be fundamental for collective and strategic action in the fight against health emergencies.

COVID-19 incidence, severity, medication use, and vaccination among dentists: survey during the second wave in Brazil

Objective This cross-sectional study with dentists in Brazil assessed the COVID-19 incidence and severity, its vaccination status, and the level of confidence in vaccines in May 2021 (COVID-19 second wave). The medications used to prevent or treat COVID-19, including controversial substances (vitamin D, ivermectin, zinc, and chloroquine), were analyzed.Methodology Dentists were recruited by email and responded to a pretested questionnaire until May 31, 2021. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed (α=0.05). Prevalence ratios were calculated for the association between professional characteristics and two outcomes: SARS-CoV-2 infection and use of controversial substances.Results In total, 1,907 responses were received (return rate of 21.2%). One third of dentists reported intermediate levels of confidence in the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, but 96% had received at least one vaccine dose, mainly CoronaVac. The effect of the pandemic on dental practice was classified as lower/much lower, in comparison with the first wave, by 46% of participants. Moreover, 27% of dentists had already tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and about 50% had relatives or friends who had been hospitalized or died from COVID-19. At least one medication was used by 59% of participants and 43% used two or more substances. Vitamin D (41%), ivermectin (35%), and zinc (29%) were the most frequent substances. More experienced dentists (≥21 years of professional experience) were 42% more likely to use controversial substances than less experienced dentists. The prevalence of use of controversial substances was 30% higher among dentists with residency or advanced training, such as postgraduate degrees, in comparison with participants holding MSc or PhD degrees. Participants with low confidence in vaccines were 2.1 times more likely to use controversial substances than participants with a very high confidence.Conclusion The results of this study show the high severity of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil and raised questions about the use of scientific evidence by dentists in their decision to use controversial substances.

Online search interest in the use of antibiotics for dental pain: an infodemiology study

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the online search interest pertaining to queries regardingantibiotics for dental pain. Material and Methods: Google Trends™ was used to identify the online searchinterest. Previously, a literature search was performed on the most frequently used antibiotics in dentistryin Brazil. Accordingly, the search terms used were Amoxicillin (AM), Clindamycin (CD), Azithromycin (AZ)and Metronidazole (MD), with the phrase “for toothache” in Portuguese and English. A time-series coveredthe last 240 weeks (from 2015 to 2020), and the results of each term were compared to their respectiveannual value. Geographic regions were also evaluated. To obtain a relative search volume (RSV), the resultingGoogle Trends™ numbers were then scaled to a range from 0 to 100 based on the ratio of searches on atopic to searches across all topics. Results: We observed an upward trend in all antibiotics search termsover the 5 years analyzed, with a peak of greater interest in 2019. The antibiotic of most interest related totoothache was ‘AM’, followed by ‘AZ’, ‘MD’, and ‘CD’. The annual RSV of toothache searches rose steadilyfrom 2015 to 2020. Variations were observed between Brazilian geographic regions, and the Northeastregion presented with the greatest interest in the topic. Conclusion: Although there were variations inannual and regional trends, an expressive and persistent increase in collective interest regarding the use ofantibiotics related to toothache, mainly amoxicillin, was observed. Our findings provide insights for publichealth promotion programs. KEYWORDSAntibiotics; Internet; Community pharmacies; Oral health; Public health.

How is working length determination taught? A survey to assess what is recommended in undergraduate Schools of Dentistry in Brazil.

To analyse what are the methods for working length (WLD) determination taught for undergraduate students in Brazilian Dental Schools and the perception of professors about the use of electronic WL determination in the clinical practice. An online questionnaire with eighteen closed questions was sent to 209 Schools of Dentistry in Brazil using the Google Forms Platform. The questionnaire was structured to analyse the perception of professors in the department of endodontics about the method of working length determination taught in undergraduate courses in Dentistry. The data collected in the questionnaires were transferred to an Excel® spreadsheet and analysed using absolute and relative frequencies. The non-parametric Mann-Whitney test was used to compare groups. Of the 209 schools contacted, 41 (19.61%) returned answers to the questionnaire. According to professors, electronic working length (WL) determination had a shorter length of time to perform it (p<.001), WL measurement accuracy (p<.001) and ease of performance (p<.001). Professors felt safer when maintaining patency when using electronic WL determination (p=.0020). Both radiographic and electronic methods of WL determination are taught in Brazilian Schools of Dentistry. The electronic method was used more frequently, especially in undergraduate clinical courses.

Oral soft-tissue sarcomas diagnosed in an oral pathology service: a 16year experience

Objective: This study analyzed the prevalence and clinic-pathological features of soft-tissue sarcomas diagnosed in a single-center of oral pathology from a School of Dentistry in Brazil. Materials and methods: All consecutive cases of intra-oral soft-tissue sarcomas diagnosed between January of 2002 and December of 2018 were retrieved from the files; patient data (sex, age and race) and characteristics of the lesions (site, size, clinical aspect and duration of injury) were collected. Results: Among a total of 62,255 biopsies diagnosed in the studied period, soft-tissue oral sarcomas comprised 76 cases (0.12%). Kaposi sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma encompassed 64.5% of the cases, and 53% of these were diagnosed as Kaposi Sarcoma. Male patients were more affected (59.2%) and white patients comprised 50%. In general, 39.4% of the patients were between 21-40yo. Conclusion: Soft-tissue sarcomas are rare in oral soft-tissue and in our pathology service, they comprised only 0.12% of all diseases diagnosed in the studied period. Kaposi sarcoma was the most frequent, followed by leiomyosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. Thus, it is important for stomatologists and pathologists to be aware of their characteristics when examining oral mucosa, mainly their peculiarities regarding patient’s age, clinical appearance, and site of occurrence.

Distance education in dentistry in Brazil: a critical STROBE-based analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced dentistry schools (DSs) to adapt their teaching techniques to digital platforms. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate distance classes in the Brazilian DS curriculum. After an online search of higher education institutions (HEIs) with DS on the e-Ministry of Education (MEC) platform, we included institutions with at least one graduated class to extract the age/localization of the DS, funding, number of authorized seats, MEC-grade, ENADE-score, and workload. HEIs' webpages were consulted to identify the curriculum, subjects offered in the distance education (DE) format, extracurricular programs, scientific events, postgraduate programs, and institutional YouTube channels. Chi-square/Fisher's tests plus binary logistic regression were performed (SPSS 20.0, p < 0.05). Of the 241 DSs evaluated, 82 (34.0%) offered distance classes, and a high prevalence was observed in the southeast region (p <0.001) and private HEIs (p = 0.001). HEIs with distance classes had lower ENADE scores (p = 0.004), lower workload (p = 0.007), and higher workload for optional subjects (p = 0.016), doctoral programs (p = 0.041), specialization courses (p = 0.017), and institutional YouTube channels (p < 0.001). Southern dental schools (p < 0.001), lower workload (p = 0.022), optional subjects (p = 0.033), and institutional YouTube channels (p = 0.005) were independently associated with distance classes. In one-third of the Brazilian DSs, distance classes and institutional YouTube channels were strongly associated variables. The association of distance learning with lower workload and low academic performance draws attention to the need for regulatory bodies for controlling the quality of DE.

HARMONIZAÇÃO FACIAL CIRÚRGICA: Área de Atuação do Cirurgião-Dentista

Ressaltar a importância da Harmonização Orofacial (HOF) no equilíbrio do Sistema Estomatognático, e dar destaque aos procedimentos cirúrgicos aplicados a HOF, que desempenham um importante papel para restabelecer a posição fisiológica dos componentes faciais, no intuito de melhorar a função e estética da face. Métodos: Este trabalho foi desenvolvido embasado em revisão bibliográfica realizada no período de 2010 até 2020, nas bases científicas Scielo, Pubmed e Google Acadêmico. Revisão Bibliográfica: A revisão bibliográfica, norteando-se pelos aspectos fundamentais que corroboraram com a criação da especialidade Odontológica Harmonização Orofacial. Esta é uma legítima especialidade Odontológica, muito embora incida sobre uma região anatômica comum também a diversas outras especialidades médicas. Do ponto de vista jurídico, o especialista em Harmonização Orofacial tem a sua atuação na cirurgia estética da face, garantida pela lei 5081 e reconhecida pela resolução CFO-198/2019. O Sistema Estomatognático é o pilar central que alicerça a atuação do Cirurgião-Dentista e com o passar do tempo a anatomia da face sofre mudanças tanto nos tecidos moles e duros. Essas alterações contribuem para o envelhecimento facial e podem ocasionar desequilíbrio funcional e/ou estético e comprometer a saúde. Como há inúmeras abordagens disponíveis para restaurar estrategicamente a aparência jovem, é preciso ter em mente que, em alguns casos, procedimentos minimamente invasivos podem não levar a um resultado satisfatório. Portanto, a HOF Cirúrgica pode ser uma valiosa opção para muitos pacientes, visando fornecer, de forma mais duradoura, um resultado de aparência jovial e equilibrada. Conclusão: A Harmonização Orofacial é uma especialidade odontológica muito importante, regida por princípios éticos, que visa proporcionar aos pacientes tratamentos estéticos e/ou funcionais, sem que haja contrapontos entre estes dois princípios para a finalização de forma harmônica e equilibrada.

Dental Care during COVID-19 Outbreak: A Web-Based Survey.

Objective This survey aimed to assess the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on elective and urgency/emergency dental care and dentists concerned. Materials and Methods A web-based survey was performed using Google forms questionnaire sent to dentists in Brazil. Questions included: personal information, type of dental care provided during quarantine, if emergencies increased, the dental office biosafety routine, among others. The levels of concern about the impact of quarantine on dental care and patient oral health conditions and the economic impact on dental practices were evaluated using a 0- to 10-point scale. Statistical analysis included descriptive, percentages, one-way ANOVA, Tukey, and chi-square tests. Results During quarantine, 64.6% of the dentists attended only urgency/emergency treatments, while 26.1% maintained routine appointments, and 9.3% closed the dental offices. A higher percentage of dentists from the least affected states continued routine dental treatment; dentists were younger and presented a significantly lower level of concern about dental treatments and oral health conditions of their patients. An increase in urgency/emergency procedures was reported by 44.1% of the dentists, mostly due to the unavailability of routine/elective dental care and increased patient anxiety and stress. The main causes of urgency/emergency appointments were toothache, dental trauma, and broken restorations, besides the breakage of orthodontic appliances and temporomandibular disorders. Dentists reported a high level of concern about the economic impact caused by quarantine. Conclusions The pandemic/quarantine has negatively affected the clinical routine. Personal protection/hygiene care must be adopted and reinforced by dental professionals/staff to make dental procedures safer.

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the teaching of dentistry in Brazil.

A new disease called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐COV‐2) virus, was discovered in the city of Wuhan in China in December 2019, and has reached, quickly and progressively, several countries on different continents. Even before the World Health Organization recognized the COVID‐19 epidemic as a pandemic, the Brazilian Ministry of Health had already declared COVID‐19 a national public health emergency due to the confirmation of cases in Brazil. In this scenario, the educational sector was one of the first to suffer the effects of the pandemic soon after the announcement of social distancing as a way to prevent the collapse of the Unified Health System. The aim of this paper is to report how Brazilians dental schools are leading with the new coronavirus pandemic.

Professional trajectory of postgraduate egress in Dentistry in Brazil: a literature review

Introduction: Many career perspectives are available within the dental sciences and with the continued growth and consolidation of postgraduate in Brazil these perspectives are even greater. Objectives: This article aims to review the current literature on the professional trajectory of masters and PhDs egress from brazilian postgraduate in dentistry. Methodology: A search was carried out on the most prestigious indexing bases within the CAPES assessment, which is currently Scopus, Web of Sciences and Google Scholar. Only 5 articles were within the scope of this research and were eligible to compose this review. Conclusion: The current medical literature is very poor in terms of the professional trajectory of masters and PhDs egress from Brazilian postgraduate studies in dentistry. Other studies must be carried out so that there is a more reliable parameter for collection and comparison between different studies and only in this way can a more consistent conclusion on this topic be established.

Atendimento odontológico em tempos de COVID-19: compartilhando boas práticas protetivas e de biossegurança

INTRODUÇÃO: Durante a pandemia da COVID-19, os cirurgiões-dentistas foram classificados como categoria profissional de alto risco à infecção e transmissão de SARS-Cov2, devido à proximidade da face do paciente bem como pela realização frequente de procedimentos geradores de aerossol. A transmissão desse patógeno durante procedimentos odontológicos pode ocorrer pela inalação de aerossóis/gotículas de indivíduos infectados ou pelo contato direto com membranas mucosas, fluidos orais ou instrumentos e superfícies contaminadas. Ciente dos riscos inerentes ao exercício dessa profissão e diante do cenário mundial, diversas recomendações têm sido sugeridas para cirurgiões-dentistas e estudantes de Odontologia no atendimento aos pacientes. Embora a biossegurança já faça parte da rotina do cirurgião-dentista, o contexto de pandemia pressupõe a necessidade de revisitar os princípios norteadores dessa prática e conhecer as particularidades impostas por um vírus até então desconhecido. OBJETIVO: Este trabalho tem como objetivo propor e discutir medidas de enfrentamento à disseminação do SARS-Cov2 no ambiente odontológico, enfatizando os cuidados necessários para a proteção dos profissionais e pacientes, no contexto da Odontologia no Brasil. MÉTODOS: Para tanto, foi realizada uma compilação de medidas e recomendações baseadas nos principais documentos técnicos publicados nos últimos meses pelas autoridades de saúde. RESULTADOS: As principais recomendações incluem a triagem dos pacientes, distanciamento social, ajustes em equipamentos de proteção individual (EPIs) e o emprego de produtos e técnicas de desinfecção adequados. CONCLUSÃO: Este trabalho apresentou, de forma objetiva e prática, medidas essenciais para atuação odontológica durante a pandemia da COVID-19, ressaltando a provável permanência dessas ações e a importância de adotar medidas rígidas, adequadas e exequíveis.