DENTAL ATTENTION IN PATIENTS WITH DISABILITIES: THE EXPERIENCE IN THE SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY OF THE LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY (CANOAS/RS)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the profile of  patients  with   disabilities served by the extension project “Conquering Health: serving patients with special needs” in the School of Dentistry Lutheran University of Brazil – Canoas Campus/RS, from 2001 to 2006. The data was collected from patients’s charts.  A similar number of male and female patients, a higher prevalence of young patients, coming from Canoas and with neurological disorders was observed.  Approximately 80% of the patients with disabilities presented caries. The results obtained suggest the establishment of public policies on health promotion and reorientation of dental services that facilitate access and use by individuals with disabilities.