Oral health care production and care models in primary health care during crisis contexts: a study in Pelotas, Brazil

Abstract

Aim: to analyze the temporal variation of dental procedures performed in Primary Health Care Units in Pelotas, RS, Brazil, between 2019 and 2024, considering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2024 climate emergency. Methods: ecological, quantitative, and descriptive study using secondary data from the Primary Care Health Information System (SISAB); preventive, restorative, periodontal, and surgical procedures were evaluated, as well as the number of dentists and productivity, through descriptive analyses of frequencies, means, and proportions. Results: a marked reduction in dental production was observed in 2020 and 2021, with an approximate 82% decrease in total procedures in 2020 compared to 2019, in addition to reduced productivity per professional; from 2022 onwards, there was a gradual recovery, although not reaching pre-pandemic levels, followed by a new reduction in 2024. Changes were also observed in the distribution of procedures, with a relative increase in collective preventive actions and a decrease in restorative procedures, as well as inconsistencies in data records. Conclusion: primary oral health care proved to be sensitive to adverse events, with difficulties in maintaining continuity of care and consolidating a comprehensive care model, highlighting the need to strengthen service resilience, improve health information systems, and optimize workforce organization.