DENTISTRY FOR INFANTS IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

To identify, by means of an integrative literature review, evidence about the development of dentistry for infants in Primary Health Care services. We included articles on the subject in Portuguese, English or Spanish, available in full online, published between 2010 and 2020. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 16 articles were selected to compose the final sample. From the interpretative analysis of the selected studies, two thematic categories emerged: Oral health care of infants in the PHC setting and Performance of PHC professionals in promoting the oral health of babies. Early educational interventions have been developed in Primary Health Care, presenting positive impacts on the oral health conditions of babies. Doctors and nurses generally need training on the subject and a better understanding to refer babies to the dentist.