Background: The current Chilean Oral Health Policy indicates that dental care is aimed at promotion and prevention, thus reinforcing the presence of dental programs in Primary Health Care (PHC) Centers. It is unknown how this policy has materialized over time, since no studies to date have analyzed the trend of dental services carried out in PHC. The objective of this study was to analyze the evolution of dental services carried out in adults in PHC of the Valparaíso - San Antonio Health Service (VSAHS). Materials and Methods: A mixed ecological study was carried out between 2008 and 2018, in 8 of the 9 municipalities of the VSAHS. The percentage trends of promotional-preventive services (PPS) and extractions were analyzed, using the databases “Resúmenes Estadísticos Mensuales-A09” (REM-A09). Results: The percentage of dental services dedicated to PPS and extractions were 24.53% and 11.36%, respectively. The group of adults between 20 and 64 years of age presented a higher percentage of PPS and a lower percentage of extractions than the 65 and over group in each municipality. There was also a trend of the percentage of PPS services increasing over time, while the percentage of extractions decreased in most of the municipalities studied. Discussion: The type of dental services carried out in PHC has evolved over time, and differences were found between municipalities of the VSAHS. To explain these results, future studies should focus on the local
management of dental services in PHC.
Keywords:
Tooth extractions, Primary health care, Dental care, Health promotion
Moraga Aros, L., Espinoza Espinoza, S., García Frías, M., & Cáceres Lillo, D. (2021). The evolution of dental services carried out in primary health care centers of the Valparaíso - San Antonio Health Service in Chile: 2008-2018. Revista Chilena De Salud Pública, 24(2), p. 104–114. https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-5281.2020.61259
