Dental emergency: scoping review

Part of the oral health care in the care network encompasses users in cases of emergency. This study proposed to map the determinants of the use of dental care services within the health care network to address dental emergencies of the Brazilian Unified Health System (UHS) and to verify the main gaps in the research in this area. This is a scoping review that took place in 2018 using Andersens behavioral model as a reference. A total of 16 studies, out of 3786 original articles identified, were included and reviewed. Two reviewers independently conducted the selection process and the decision was consensually taken. The mapping of the determinants revealed a greater number of enabling factors and a larger gap in results. Greater use of the emergency service was registered by people in pain, women, adults, from an urban area, with a lower income, and less education. In future studies, primary surveys are recommended, which include all ages, analyzing different groups of needs and users that take into account the countrys northern region and the different subjects pointed out in this review.