Dental implant therapy in the Brazilian Public System

Abstract

Aim: This retrospective study aims to describe and analyze the number of dental implants and implant-retained prostheses performed by the Unified Health System (SUS) in the last decade. Methods: This study is based on secondary data from the official government database (DATASUS) performed from January 2010 to December 2019 and is reported following the STROBE. A descriptive analysis was performed of the total sample and the stratified sample divided by Brazilian states. Results: A total of 143,037 dental implants and 93,325 implant-retained prostheses were provided by SUS. It is possible to observe that some states played a massive role on the provision of dental implants and implant-retained prostheses (Parana state: 58.4% and 55.9% and Paraiba state: 21.1% and 25.2% of the total amount of dental implants and implant-retained prostheses, respectively) while some states did not provide a single implant-retained prosthesis. Also, inland cities were mostly responsible for the number of procedures compared to the state capitals. Conclusion: Although dental implant therapy is available in SUS across the country, the number of treatments provided in the last decade is still very limited and is also mainly concentrated in the southeastern region of Brazil.

Use of dental implants among older adults of two southern Brazilian cities: A population‐based cross‐sectional study

“…One of the main reasons to not use dental implants when needed is the high costs 15,37 . In Brazil, the public health system offer this treatment modality free of charge, but the number of treatments are reduced and polarized in certain regions of the countr 12 . For this reason, as verified in other countries, 30,37 the private health system is the most viable alternative for those that seek oral rehabilitations with dental implants.…”

“…Indeed, the majority of older adults from Brazil that use the private oral health services are white and from upper‐classes 41,42 . The investment of dental implant treatment varies significantly across the country, but a single dental implant may cost approximately a Brazilian minimum wage (approximately $250), 12 which may be faced as very expensive for most of the non‐white population that has the lowest development indicators in the country.…”

“…Therefore, the access to these treatments may be related to economic fators 11 . Based on this reality, the National Policy for Oral Health contemplated the oral rehabilitation by all types of dental prosthesis, which includes the dental prosthesis installed in dental implants 12 …”

“…Retrospective analyses have demonstrated that in the last decade that 143,037 dental implants and 93,325 dental prosthesis were offered by the Brazilian public health system 12 . This type of oral rehabilitation are considered one of the best options to replace tooth loss, as higher success and survival rates are demonstrated in the literature, also promoting a higher satisfaction and general well‐being 13,14 .…”