Miguel Guimarães

Oral Health in Public Services isn’t restricted to primary health care, nor to appointment offices in Health Care Units. A critical aspect that is frequently underestimated in health care – Hospital Dental Medicine – is still very embryonic in Portugal.

Nonetheless, exploring the intersection of oral health and the broader medical field, shedding light on a specialized area such as Dental Medicine that plays such an important role in the integrated health care of patients is a much-wanted discussion.

The medical and dental needs of patients who present other complex medical conditions, serious disabilities, or require specialized oral treatments within a hospital environment, may not be properly addressed, at a time when we are facing an unprecedented health crisis.

Hospital dentistry should combine the art and science of dental medicine with the intricacies of service organization, health management, and the overall well-being of patients.

It is of utmost importance to immerse in the multi-faceted world of hospital dental medicine, analysing its importance and scope and the diverse patient populations it serves. One can also explore the variety of procedures, challenges and innovations that make this field challenging and rewarding.