PROFILE OF DENTISTS AND THEIR PERFORMANCE IN ATRAUMATIC RESTORATIVE TREATMENT (ART) IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CASCAVEL – PARANÁ

Abstract

Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) is an effective and economical method that does not use anesthesia and recommends the performance of minimally invasive cavity preparations, using only manual instruments for the removal of infected dentin. The objective of this study was to identify the perception of dental surgeons regarding the applicability of ART in Primary Health Care services in the city of Cascavel, Paraná. This is a descriptive research based on a self-administered questionnaire that presents 10 questions with two types of information, one of a personal nature of the professional referring to the profile of the dentists and the other regarding the perception and practice of the ART technique. We evaluated 40 dentists aged between 20 and 60 years, in which the majority (85%) had completed postgraduate studies and 92.5% reported having knowledge about the ART technique. As for the indication of the procedure, 12.5% ​​answered correctly, stating that it is a definitive procedure and 97.5% of the professionals believe in the effectiveness of this technique. Most dentists (85%) feel prepared to perform ART and 72.5% reported having great success with the application of the technique, with 97.5% of them indicating its application in the public health network. It is a procedure applied in dental clinics as well as in non-clinical environments according to 77.5% of dentists and should be performed for both deciduous and permanent teeth for 90% of professionals. It is concluded that most professionals obtained positive results with a high success rate of the ART technique and agree with the use of this procedure in the public health system.