Implementation of the Brazilian National Oral Health Policy and its influence on oral health conditions in Brazilian state capitals in the first decade of the 21st century

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze strategies for the implementation of the Brazilian National Oral Health Policy (PNSB) and its influence on oral health conditions in state capitals in the first decade of the 21st century. This is a policy assessment study. Data on oral health conditions were obtained from the databases of the Brazilian National Oral Health Surveys in 2003 and 2010 (SBBrasil 2003 and SBBrasil 2010), calculating the annual percent change in variables pertaining to oral health conditions as dependent variables for Brazilian state capitals. The PNSB was analyzed according to its conceptual foundations: oral healthcare model, organization of the supply of oral health services, implementation of oral health promotion strategies, and existence of fluoridation of the public water supply. Data were obtained from the national health databases and face-to-face interviews with oral health coordinators in 13 state capitals. The analyses were controlled and adjusted by the target population’s socioeconomic conditions. An association was observed between the characteristics of oral health promotion, services supply, and model of care, indicating that the public services’ dynamic is dependent on the management priorities and the policy’s conduction. In conclusion, the PNSB is implemented differently in Brazil’s state capitals according to the ways its guidelines are conducted in each capital and whether it favors best practices and strategies in oral healthcare. However, the influence of the PNSB is still not clear on the modification of oral health indicators from 2003 to 2010.