ORAL HEALTH IN THE PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL SETTING: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW OF CLINICAL CONDITIONS AND DENTAL CARE

Abstract

Hospital dentistry plays an important role in promoting oral health and preventing complications in hospitalized children. This integrative review, based on observational studies, investigated the oral health conditions of hospitalized children and associated factors, considering caregivers and pediatric hospital dental care. Searches were conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE, BVS, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases, including studies published between 2016 and March 2026 in Portuguese or English. After the selection process, eight studies were included in the final analysis, and their methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist. The results showed a high frequency of dental biofilm, inadequate oral hygiene, dental caries, need for dental treatment, low adherence to oral hygiene practices, high consumption of foods and medications with cariogenic potential, and limited caregiver knowledge regarding oral health. In contrast, studies reporting continuous dental follow-up demonstrated better oral health conditions, greater implementation of preventive measures, and lower exposure to risk factors. Therefore, hospitalized children exhibit several oral health alterations that may interfere with clinical recovery. The inclusion of dental surgeons in multidisciplinary teams and the strengthening of educational actions directed toward caregivers are essential to improve care and promote oral health in the pediatric hospital setting.