Meaning of Dental Care in the Midst of the Pandemic of COVID-19 from the Perspective of Dental Surgeons of Primary Health Care from the Municipality of Palmas - Tocantins

Abstract

Introduction: During the pandemic of COVID-19 the dentistry professionals in addition to being vulnerable to contagion of the disease, had to deal with the risk of spreading the disease. In this direction, this research objective understand the meaning of dental care in the midst of the Pandemic of COVID-19 from the perspective of Dental Surgeons (DCs) of Primary Health Care (PHC). Methodology: this is a qualitative, descriptive, exploratory study, with interpretivist epistemological positioning, through content analysis. The technique data collection the of individual semi-structured interviews in a face-to-face. Results: the dialogues were analyzed and after being refined brought the understanding of dentistry professionals regarding the meanings of dental care during the pandemic and the feelings and emotions reflected in their meanings. Final considerations: the DCs reported that although it was a challenge due to the risk of contamination, they saw their practice as an important learning and professional development, in addition to teaching about the importance of self-care with health, the adaptation to work in times of psychological pressure, the importance of teamwork, and the recognition of the essentiality of the profession with the self-perception of the importance of the DC in PHC, favoring the equity in the care of the population.