Process contribution teaching and learning in the qualification of human resources in the oral health of elderly care

Abstract

The university extension project "Always Smiling" is being carried out for sixteen years, with actions in the area of geriatric dentistry in four nursing homes in the city of Araçatuba, São Paulo, aiming at comprehensiveness in oral health care of the elderly and the training of students and professionals involved. Objective of this study was to analyze and describe the experience of the project and its contribution to vocational training. This is an exploratory, descriptive study, carried out by means of document analysis, referring the actions taken in this project. Are made currently: qualification and graduate students team training and graduate students; survey of oral health status of the elderly; setting treatment needs; training of caregivers and periodic supervision of oral hygiene. The results emphasize the formation of links with local institutions and elderly are reported by categories: oral health of the elderly; Planning and organization of the project; strategic actions; Development Agency; Commitment to professional training and development of products. The activities carried out in the project favor the establishment of the relationship between higher education and society, essential for the formation of professionals committed to the social reality. It is concluded that the extension project contributes to the teaching-learning process, founded the human / professional training, has extreme social relevance, through actions to the attention of the oral health of the elderly and the qualification of human resources.