Set of procedures in oral health: origin, apogee and decline

Abstract

In order to analize the significance to the oral health national policy of the set of procedures in oral health, introduced in 1992 and extinguished in 2006, a bibliographic research and a documental analysis were carried out. Created in Collor's government as the central element of the oral health policy, which intended to reverse the surgical-restorative socialized model and extinguish the so-called 'finished treatment' as an instrument for remuneration in the area, the set of procedures aimed at enabling states and towns to be remunerated for preventive actions. During the 90s the set of procedures occupied an important position among the oral health actions of the 'SUS' (National Health System), thus stimulating, under financial support, promotional and preventive actions at hundreds of towns. However, its connection with the mechanisms of resource transfer, which was initially regarded as a step forward, gradually removed its characteristic of being instrumental in changing the kind of treatment. In spite of difficulties and limitations, its creation and widespread use did represent an effort to substantially modify the model of dentistry practice prevailing in the public health area, redirecting it to health preventive and promotional actions - which became its major legacy.