Exodontia e acesso endodôntico como urgência odontológica: um estudo transversal realizado em uma unidade de urgência em Salvador - Bahia

Abstract

Introduction: Historically, access to oral health care in Brazil was limited and marked by mutilating procedures, reflecting social inequalities. The implementation of the SUS and the National Oral Health Policy expanded access to free dental promotion, prevention, and treatment. Dental emergencies treat acute cases of pain and infection, often serving as a gateway for patients without basic care. Social and individual factors, such as income, education, and self-perception of oral health, influence tooth loss and extraction. Understanding these determinants is essential to reduce mutilating procedures and improve oral health in Salvador, Bahia. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the profile of patients treated at an Emergency Dental Care Unit (UAO-Dique) in Salvador, Bahia, considering sociodemographic characteristics, oral health conditions, risk factors, and self-perception of oral health in 2025. Method: This is a cross-sectional study with 213 participants, whose data collection included sociodemographic characteristics, access to services, oral morbidity, self-perception of health, and psychosocial impact. Descriptive analyses, association tests, and hierarchical multivariate logistic regression were applied. Results: The results showed that gender, education, and income directly influence the type of dental procedure. Men and individuals with lower education and income had a higher prevalence of extractions, while women and patients with better socioeconomic conditions had more access to conservative procedures. Regular dental visits, proximity to the health facility, and seeking treatment were associated with a higher number of preservative procedures. Negative self-perception of oral health increased the likelihood of tooth extraction, reflecting the influence of subjective factors on treatmentseeking behavior and therapeutic choice. Multivariate analysis confirmed that gender, income, time since the last visit, and self-perception of oral health remain significantly associated with the type of dental procedure in an emergency context. Conclusion: It is concluded that strategies to promote oral health, expand the availability of conservative treatments, and provide continuing health education are essential to reduce inequalities, prevent the need for invasive interventions, and promote tooth preservation and a better quality of life.