Social Representation Of Children About The Role Of The Dentist

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to understand how school-age children interpret the role of dentists in society. Under qualitative guidelines, dentistry students from the “Nós na Rede” extension project collected information from school-age children who participated in a multidisciplinary university health and social integration initiative. Data were collected through individual interviews and the guiding question used was: “What is the purpose of a dentist?”. Data were tabulated using the thematic content analysis technique and discussed in light of sociology and child psychology. Three major categories emerged from the responses of thirty children, entitled: Oral Health Prevention, Dental Treatment and Pain Relief. It was concluded that children have an assertive and predominantly positive view of the role of dentists in society, directly reflecting their knowledge and reflective capacity, and indirectly the value attributed to this professional.