Analysis of hospital dental care in a pediatric center / Análise da assistência odontológica hospitalar em um centro pediátrico

Oral health promotion in hospitalized patients aims to improve the general clinical conditions and reduce the length of hospital stay. This study's objective was to analyze the role of the dentist inserted in the multidisciplinary staff in hospital environment, in order to improve the general conditions and well-being of hospitalized infant patients. The sample consisted of 180 (60%) males and 120 (40%) females, with a mean age of 5.6 years ±156 months. The analysis of the dental condition found in these patients was good in 30% of the cases (n = 90), regular in 45% (n = 135) and poor in 25% (n = 75). Most of the visits were preventive (79.57%), and curative procedures (20.43%) contributed to the improvement of clinical conditions. It is concluded that the insertion of the dentist in the hospital, both in the context of the wards and in the intensive care units, are beneficial to the hospitalized patients