Importance and performance of the Dental Surgeon regarding the oral hygiene of the blind person: an integrative literature review

Abstract

According to surveys carried out in 2013, 6.2% of the Brazilian population has some type of disability, with visual impairment being the most common and affecting approximately 3.6% of Brazilians. It is essential to include visually impaired people in all stages of life and in the social, political and economic spheres. Dentistry professionals must know how to recognize in the population with visual impairment a prosperous field of work and insertion of public policies. The present study aims to discuss and evaluate the performance and importance of the dentist in the context of oral hygiene of the visually impaired patient. This is an integrative literature review, and with regard to the material used, the following research platforms were chosen: Google Scholar, Lilacs – Bireme (Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences) and SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online). With regard to inclusion and exclusion methods: studies available in full, in Portuguese, published between 2012 and 2022 with thematic relevance, excluding incomplete studies that were published before 2012. They were selected after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria 09 articles to be analyzed in this integrative literature review. During the search for studies, there was a shortage of studies that dealt specifically with this topic. The results point to the importance of creating actions and strategies by the dentist with regard to the inclusion, accessibility and autonomy of the visually impaired. Studies indicate that the professional in question is of vital importance in promoting the health and quality of these special patients. The conclusions state that the main considerations for dentists are related to the recognition of their patients' lack of autonomy, especially those related to oral hygiene, seeking to prevent caries and satisfactory management of oral hygiene.