THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TELEODENTOLOGY IN THE SUS: CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES IN ORAL HEALTH IN PRIMARY CARE

Abstract

The implementation of teledentistry within Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS) represents a strategic innovation to expand access to oral health in primary care. This exploratory, descriptive, and applied study analyzed the challenges and perspectives of using this technology, through literature review and document analysis. The results indicate that the main barriers to teledentistry implementation include technological infrastructure limitations, lack of professional training, regulatory gaps, and resistance from some managers and practitioners. On the other hand, positive perspectives stand out, such as strengthening problem-solving capacity in primary care, expanding access in remote areas, and promoting integration among different levels of care. It is concluded that teledentistry has the potential to transform the organization of oral health within SUS, provided it is supported by investments in infrastructure, proper regulation, and continuous professional training.