DENTAL CARE AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN PATIENTS ADMITTED TO INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Abstract

Dental care in patients admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICU) is essential to ensure the oral health and general well-being of individuals. In this context, the training of health professionals, the development of standardized oral hygiene protocols, and the involvement of multidisciplinary teams play a key role. The inclusion of dental professionals in the health team can allow for the early identification of oral problems, the implementation of preventive measures, and the timely treatment of existing conditions. Thus, the present work aims to explore, through a literature review, the depth and breadth of dental care in ICU patients, identifying effective strategies for health promotion, diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases, in addition to expanding the understanding of the integration of dentistry in multidisciplinary care in these environments. The search was carried out in several academic databases, such as PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, using the keywords: "dental care in ICU", "oral health in intensive care", and "oral hygiene protocols in a hospital environment". The inclusion of studies was limited to those published from 2014 to 2024. The analysis of the articles concludes that it is essential for dental surgeons to work in the hospital environment together with multidisciplinary teams, the practice of standardized protocols and measures that aim to ensure an intergral approach in the provision of dental care and contribute to the improvement of general clinical outcomes and the quality of life of patients admitted to the ICU.