PERSPECTIVA DE INDIVÍDUOS QUE USUFRUEM DO ATENDIMENTO ODONTOLÓGICO GRATUITO: O BENEFÍCIO DA ODONTOLOGIA ESTUDANTIL PARA A COMUNIDADE

Abstract

The free dental care currently offered by the undergraduate schools has brought benefits to the population in need of specialized care, as well as provided basic knowledge of practical understanding and ideals based on the foundations and guidelines of the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). The study was aimed at obtaining the perspective of the users as to the student care of a dental clinic in an Educational Institution. The study was carried out with the application of 100 questionnaires, previously authorized by patients after reading the Terms of Free and Informed Consent (TCLE). The questionnaire presented questions aimed at the level of satisfaction of the individual with regard to the treatment offered by the students of the Dentistry course in the clinic, and other questions such as age, gender, socio-economic profile, oral hygiene habits and access to dental treatment. The data were tabulated and analyzed, and the results obtained showed that 71% of respondents are very satisfied and 28% are satisfied with the overall care; 97% believe that clinical care brings benefits to the community. It was concluded that the majority of patients attending the clinic rated the teaching and student care as good or excellent and that the working environment was pleasant, being satisfied with the treatment, which was considered beneficial to the community.