title: Ten Years of a National Oral Health Policy in Brazil: Innovation, Boldness, and Numerous Challenges.
abstract: Brazil is the only country in the world to propose a universal health care system with the aim of guaranteeing delivery of all levels of health care, free of charge, to a population of over 200 million inhabitants by means of a unified health system ("Sistema Único de Saúde" [SUS]). The national policy of oral health, also known as Smiling Brazil ("Brasil Sorridente"), was implemented in 2004. Oral health was designated as 1 of the 4 priority areas of the SUS, transforming oral health care in Brazil, with the objective that the SUS achieve the integrality of care envisaged at its creation. The aim of this article is to share part of this experience in order to prompt reflection about the inclusion of oral health care in other health care systems around the world. The most significant results of Smiling Brazil can be seen in 3 areas: (1) oral health epidemiological indicators, (2) financial investment and professional development, and (3) the building of an oral health care network throughout the 10 y of the policy. The "Discovery!" article presented here portrays 10 y of evolution; however, it is important to point out that this is a process undergoing construction and that the oral health care network needs to be further expanded, refined, and solidified so that over time and through changes in the political parties in power, Smiling Brazil prevails as a perennial policy and not merely an action by a single government.
authors: Ministry of Health, Brasília, Brazil Department of Dentistry, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.
authors: G A
authors: GA
authors: Pucca
authors: Department of Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil Observatory for Oral Health Human Resources, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Gabriel
authors: Observatory for Oral Health Human Resources, São Paulo, Brazil Discipline of Public Health, Department of Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: M E
authors: ME
authors: de Araujo
authors: Observatory for Oral Health Human Resources, São Paulo, Brazil Discipline of Expanded Clinics for Health Promotion, Department of Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil fernandacsa@usp.br.
authors: F C S
authors: FC
authors: de Almeida
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration; D003729:Dental Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D006291:Health Policy; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D009909:Oral Health / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019472:Universal Health Insurance / Q000458:organization & administration; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: community dentistry; community health services; delivery of health care; dental public health; epidemiology; preventive dentistry