Speech-language Pathology and Audiology and Dentistry in Primary Care: Experience Report on Health Education

Abstract

Introduction: Primary care in the Brazilian Unified Health System includes innumerous types of actions regarding health promotion and prevention. Promotion, prevention and health education are highly important to the autonomy and empowerment of the population. The presence of Interdisciplinary work in primary care can enhance these actions and generate even more effective changes regarding the health education in communities. Objective: to describe aspects of the Children’s Oral Health group developed by professionals of the area of speech, language and hearing sciences and dentistry at the Center of Health of Saco Grande, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Method: A total of 12 weekly meetings with children from one month to nine years of age and their caregivers were performed. Aspects related to oral hygiene, deleterious oral habits and child development were presented to participants. This was meant to raise questions and encourage the construction of an active and meaningful knowledge by children and/or their caregivers. Results: There was increased demand of the population for the groups aged five to seven years, especially in children who already had some dental abnormalities. Conclusion: In this experience, the speech, language and hearing sciences and dentistry professionals were perceived as important allies in children health education, especially in oral health and in the development of oral functions