ACCESS OF CAPS USERS TO ORAL HEALTH CARE IN THE LIGHT OF THE COLLECTIVE SUBJECT'S DISCOURSE
Mental health services, access to health services, collective oral health.
INTRODUCTION: Plots of the population continue to have difficulties in accessing health care, especially oral health. Considering the vulnerability of the population with a mental disorder, the assistance offered through the access door to the health system must be considered of importance. Thus, there is much to be researched in the scope of mental health and access to health services, especially in relation to the strategic role of the Psychosocial Care Center (CAPS), the network's articulation with health services and dental services, in an attempt to provide improved access to services by the population with mental disorders. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the access of CAPS users to oral health care in the light of the Collective Subject Discourse. METHOD: This is a research with a descriptive, exploratory qualitative approach. The collection was carried out at CAPS II Chiquita Bacana, located in the city of Santa Cruz-RN, with 12 users of the service and 12, through a semi-structured interview applied at the same time with both individuals. The statements collected regarding access to oral health services were organized by extracting the Central Ideas (CI) and their corresponding Key Expressions (ECH) and the Collective Subject Discourses were formulated, with the support of DSCSoft software. RESULTS and DISCUSSION: Both users and family members have sought dental services in the public sector at some time in their lives and there has been no refusal by dentists to provide care. However, this access occurs with the presence of queues, difficulties in obtaining forms for appointment and availability of space for care and maintenance of continuity of care. This seems to directly interfere with the low frequency and discontinuity of visits to the dentist. The DSC reveals dentistry aimed at curative practices, sought because of pain resulting mainly in tooth extractions, a mutilating treatment. CONCLUSION: It is urgent to consider oral health as an integral part of the broader concept of health and to promote its integration with other health practices. There is a need for an adequate development of policy planning with a focus on prevention and actions aimed at training dental professionals, aiming at improving access and comprehensive care, without underestimating the influence of living conditions and health determinants on oral health status. It is added that odnontologists need to be more involved and willing to develop more effective dialogues with the population, with the empowerment of those involved and decision-making in the scope of inclusive oral health for users of the mental health service.