Speakers - 2026 Speakers

Abstract

This presentation highlights innovative, community-driven strategies in Dental Public Health that have effectively reduced access barriers and advanced oral health equity among historically underserved populations. Drawing on real-world outreach experiences in southern Brazil, the session features case studies led by UniRitter students and faculty, implemented in quilombola communities, indigenous villages (aldeias), and night high schools, among others. These are settings where access to oral healthcare is typically limited due to geographic, socioeconomic, or cultural factors.

Through a combination of portable technologies, culturally adapted health education, and preventive interventions, these outreach projects brought essential services directly to the communities most in need. On-site oral health education workshops helped demystify dental care and build trust, while mobile preventive care, such as fluoride application and screening for oral disease, served as an entry point for longer-term engagement. The initiatives also established referral pathways for those requiring more complex treatment, connecting community members with public dental services.

A key element of success was the integration of culturally sensitive communication and interprofessional collaboration, involving not only dental professionals but also community health workers, educators, and local leaders. These partnerships ensured that each intervention was contextually appropriate and sustainable beyond the initial outreach period.

The presentation will also explore how student engagement functions as a powerful tool for both education and service delivery, multiplying workforce capacity and fostering civic responsibility. Finally, the session will reflect on how the insights gained from these projects can inform policy and practice in other underserved regions, both within and beyond Brazil.

What will the audience take away from the presentation?

• Practical models for oral health outreach in rural, indigenous, and underserved urban communities.
• Tools for culturally adapted oral health education and service delivery.
• Ways to integrate student participation in public health practice to expand reach and sustainability.
• Actionable ideas to replicate these strategies in other institutional or community settings, both in teaching and service delivery contexts.