Oral health assessment from the perspective of the municipal manager

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a situational diagnosis related to the organization of oral health services in 40 municipalities of São Paulo State, Brazil. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, quantitative and qualitative, descriptive study performed through document analysis and application of a semi-structured questionnaire to oral health coordinators, in 2014. The following items were defined: dental infrastructure, access and regulation, work organization and assessment strategies. Although the Basic Health Unit is the main gateway to the system, dental care was also conducted in schools; the main service access of the population was the spontaneous demand and there have been production data inconsistencies in the information systems. Results: It was observed that, 60% answered that the health planning process included oral health; 47.5% performed risk assessment; 47.5% did not perform evaluation and monitoring of results. Conclusion: It is concluded that municipalities present different moments in the structuring of the service and that managers should improve the access organization, the work process and service evaluation in order to consolidate the universality and comprehensiveness of health care.