Abstract

Objective:

to investigate the coverage of dental radiographic equipment provided by the Brazilian National Health System (SUS) in South Brazilian municipalities in 2016 and to investigate radiographic procedures in the municipalities that have this equipment.

Methods:

this was an ecological study conducted with data from the SUS Outpatient Information System (primary healthcare units with a dental surgery, radiographic equipment available and operational and X-rays being performed) and Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics data (population); the chi-square test and variance analysis were performed.

Results:

984 items of dental radiographic equipment were identified in 479 out of 1,191 municipalities analyzed; 60% of the municipalities had no equipment, 68% had less than the recommended coverage, and 52% of the municipalities with equipment did not perform any radiography examination during 2016.

Conclusion:

less than half of the municipalities had radiographic dental equipment; among those that did have this equipment, half did not perform any procedures.

Keywords:
X-Rays; Radiology Information Systems; Radiology; Brazilian National Health System; Ecological Studies

Introduction

X-rays are the main complementary examinations used in the clinical practice of dentists¹1. Hammad HM, Hasen YM, Odat AA, Mikdadi AM, Safadi RA. Odontogenic myxoma with diffuse calcifications: a case report and review of a rare histologic feature. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2016 Oct;122(4):e116-24. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2015.12.009
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oooo.2015.12.0... ^,22. Ritter AV, Ramos MD, Astorga F, Shugars DA, Bader JD. Visual-tactile versus radiographic caries detection agreement in caries-active adults. J Public Health Dent. 2013 Summer;73(3):252-60. doi: 10.1111/jphd.12024 and their availability is indispensable in order to carry out correct diagnosis.³3. Patel S, Brady E, Wilson R, Brown J, Mannocci F. The detection of vertical root fractures in root filled teeth with periapical radiographs and CBCT scans. Int Endod J. 2013 Dec;46(12):1140-52. doi: 10.1111/iej.12109
https://doi.org/10.1111/iej.12109...

4. Junqueira RB, Verner FS, Campos CN, Devito KL, Carmo AM. Detection of vertical root fractures in the presence of intracanal metallic post: a comparison between periapical radiography and cone-beam computed tomography. J Endod. 2013 Dec;39(12):1620-4. doi: 10.1016/j.joen.2013.08.031
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joen.2013.08.0...

5. Schwendicke F, Tzschoppe M, Paris S. Radiographic caries detection: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dent. 2015 Aug;43(8):924-33. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2015.02.009
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2015.02....

6. Saoud TMA, Zaazou A, Nabil A, Moussa S, Lin LM, Gibbs JL. Clinical and radiographic outcomes of traumatized immature permanent necrotic teeth after revascularization/revitalization therapy. J Endod. 2014 Dec;40(12):1946-52. doi: 10.1016/j.joen.2014.08.023
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joen.2014.08.0... ^-77. Alimohammadi R. Imaging of dentoalveolar and jaw trauma. Radiol Clin North Am. 2018 Jan;56(1):105-24. doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2017.08.008
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcl.2017.08.00... Unavailability of such complementary examinations may compromise diagnosis of oral diseases in health care service users. In 2009, 84% of dental x-ray equipment belonged to private services, while equipment availability was low (16%) for users of the Brazilian National Health System (SUS).⁸8. Lira-Júnior R, Cavalcanti YD, Almeida LFD, Sales MAO. Panorama da radiologia odontológica no Brasil: disponibilidade de aparelhos e produção ambulatorial de radiografias. Rev Cubana Estomatol. 2012 jul-set;49(3):223-31.^,99. Freitas MB, Yoshimura EM. Levantamento da distribuição de equipamentos de diagnóstico por imagem e freqüência de exames radiológicos no Estado de São Paulo. Radiol Bras. 2005 set;28(5):347-54. doi: 10.1590/S0100-39842005000500008
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-3984200500... These data were collected shortly after the beginning of National Oral Health Policy (PNSB), deployed in 2004.

PNSB implementation required an initial investment of 2.6 billion dollars,¹⁰10. Pucca Jr GA, Gabriel M, Araujo ME, Almeida FC. Ten years of a national oral health policy in Brazil: innovation, boldness, and numerous challenges. J Dent Res. 2015 Oct;94(10):1333-7. doi: 10.1177/0022034515599979
https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034515599979... enabling expanded access to oral health services as a result of the increase in the number of SUS dental clinics and dentists.¹⁰10. Pucca Jr GA, Gabriel M, Araujo ME, Almeida FC. Ten years of a national oral health policy in Brazil: innovation, boldness, and numerous challenges. J Dent Res. 2015 Oct;94(10):1333-7. doi: 10.1177/0022034515599979
https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034515599979... ^,1111. San Martin AS, Chisini LA, Martelli S, Sartori LRM, Ramos EC, Demarco FF. Distribution of dental schools and dentists in Brazil: an overview of the labor market. Rev ABENO. 2018 Mar;18(1):63-73. doi: 10.30979/rev.abeno.v18i1.399
https://doi.org/10.30979/rev.abeno.v18i1... In this context, there are no studies showing that this expansion has resulted in greater supply and availability of dental radiographic equipment. Nor are there are consistent investigations demonstrating that such equipment is actually being used.

The objective of this study was to investigate: (i) the coverage of dental radiographic equipment provided by the Brazilian National Health System in South Brazilian municipalities in 2016; and (ii) to investigate the performance of radiographic procedures in those municipalities that have this equipment.

Methods

An ecological study was conducted with data from the SUS Outpatient Information System (SIA/SUS)/SUS Information Technology Department (DATASUS) and data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), corroborating proposals from previous studies.¹²12. Barros SG, Chaves SCL. A utilização do Sistema de Informações Ambulatoriais (SIA/SUS) como instrumento para caracterização das ações de saúde bucal. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2003 jan-mar;12(1):41-51. doi: 10.5123/S1679-49742003000100005
https://doi.org/10.5123/S1679-4974200300...

13. Pires ALC, Gruendemann JLAL, Figueiredo GS, Conde MCM, Corrêa MB, Chisini LA. Atenção secundária em saúde bucal no Rio Grande do Sul: análise descritiva da produção especializada em municípios com Centros de Especialidades Odontológicas com base no Sistema de Informações Ambulatoriais do Sistema Único de Saúde. RFO-UPF. 2015 set-dez;20(3):325-33. doi: 10.5335/rfo.v20i3.5407
https://doi.org/10.5335/rfo.v20i3.5407... ^-1414. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Censo demográfico [Internet]. 2016 [citado 2018 nov 20]. Disponível em: Disponível em: https://www.ibge.gov.br/
https://www.ibge.gov.br/... Data relating to the year 2016, were collected in March 2017.

The databases (tabnet.datasus.gov.br) were consulted to identify how many primary health care units (PHU) in the three Southern Brazilian states had dental clinics available, as well as the quantity of radiographic equipment installed in each municipality. We only included radiographic equipment registered as being 'in operation' by SIA/SUS. As such, our study considered equipment that was technically available for use in SUS services. Data was collected on interproximal and periapical dental x-rays performed in each municipality in the period from January to December 2016.

All Southern Brazilian municipalities were considered to be eligible. They were stratified according to their respective states - Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná - and also by population size: up to 20,000 inhabitants; from 20,001 to 50,000; 50,001 to 150,000; and more than 150,000 inhabitants.¹⁵15. Ministério da Saúde (BR). Pesquisa nacional de saúde bucal (2010): resultados principais [Internet]. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2012 [citado 2018 nov 20]. 116 p. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/pesquisa_nacional_saude_bucal.pdf
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoe...

The variables analyzed and their categorizations are presented below:

The 'availability of radiographic equipment' and 'dental radiographic equipment per PHU' indicators were built using SIA/SUS data. Recommended radiographic coverage and radiographic examinations performed were estimated based on SIA/SUS and IBGE data.¹⁴14. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Censo demográfico [Internet]. 2016 [citado 2018 nov 20]. Disponível em: Disponível em: https://www.ibge.gov.br/
https://www.ibge.gov.br/...

All data were retrieved independently by two researchers (San Martin AS; Silva JVJBF), with the aim of minimizing errors in data retrieval. Inconsistencies were checked by a third researcher (Chisini LA).

This study is a census of South Brazilian municipalities. The data collected were tabulated using Tabnet and subsequently exported to Stata 12.0. The relative and absolute frequencies of the variables, as well as the means and standard deviations (SD) for the numerical variables were obtained.

Categorical variables were analyzed using Pearson's chi-squared test; continuous variables were analyzed both by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and also by the Bonferroni test. In order to analyze the 'dental radiographic equipment per PHU' variable, it was converted into a logarithmic scale. This conversion was done owing to non-normal distribution. A significance level of 5% (p<0.05) was adopted.

As this study used only secondary data, it was exempt from appraisal by a Research Ethics Committee, in accordance with National Health Council Resolution No. 510, dated 7 April 2016.

Results

A total of 984 dental radiographic equipments were identified in the three states of Southern Brazil. However, 60% of the municipalities (n=712) did not have at least one dental radiographic equipment. The quantity of dental radiographic equipments available per PHU was 0.21 (SD=0.4) in Rio Grande do Sul state, 0.29 (SD=0.4) in Santa Catarina state and 0.22 (SD=0.4; p<0.001) in Paraná state. Municipalities in the state of Paraná with up to 20,000 inhabitants had, on average, 0.4 (SD=0.7) equipments per municipality, while in the state of Rio Grande do Sul municipalities with the same population size had an average of 0.3 (SD=0.7; p<0.001) (Figure 1). Municipalities with a large population had higher availability, a higher average of dental radiographic equipments and a greater quantity of equipments per PHU than municipalities with lower population size in the three states analyzed (p<0.001; Table 1).

Municipalities with up to 20,000 inhabitants had the lowest proportion of equipments per PHU (mean=0.6; SD=0.6) and this pattern was found in all three states. We also found that 68% of South Brazilian municipalities (n=815) had below recommended coverage: Santa Catarina had 43% coverage, Paraná, 31%; and Rio Grande do Sul, 24%. Recommended radiographic coverage was not found to be associated with population size (p=0.095).

In more than half of the municipalities (52%) with dental radiographic equipment, no radiographic examinations were performed during 2016. Municipalities in the state of Santa Catarina had the highest number of radiographic examinations performed per 10,000 inhab. (mean=1.5; SD=4.1), followed by municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul (mean=0.4; SD=1.3) and in Paraná (mean=0.3; SD=1.3; p<0.001).

Discussion

Less than half of the Southern Brazilian municipalities had dental radiographic equipment suitable for use and more than half of it was not used to perform any radiography examinations during 2016. Therefore, the availability of equipment did not necessarily imply x-rays being performed.

SIA/SUS is a health information system with national coverage containing data on procedures performed at the local level of management. During the data input process, it is possible that radiographs may have been underreported. Nevertheless, given that municipalities must keep these data up to date, underreporting of radiographic examinations alone would not be capable of explaining the underutilization of available equipment and a consequent deficit in complementary examinations.

Due to the low proportion of dental radiographic equipment per PHU in the Southern region, dentists have to refer service users to units where there is equipment available for performing radiographic examinations. Besides the low knowledge of professionals,¹⁷17. Oliveira AF, Lederman HM, Batista NA. The learning of resources of the unified health system in the radiology residency program. Radiol Bras. 2014 May-Jun;47(3):154-8. doi: 10.1590/0100-3984.2013.1677
https://doi.org/10.1590/0100-3984.2013.1... difficulties with referral logistics¹⁰10. Pucca Jr GA, Gabriel M, Araujo ME, Almeida FC. Ten years of a national oral health policy in Brazil: innovation, boldness, and numerous challenges. J Dent Res. 2015 Oct;94(10):1333-7. doi: 10.1177/0022034515599979
https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034515599979... ^,1818. Goes PS, Figueiredo N, Neves JC, Silveira FM, Costa JF, Pucca Júnior GA, et al. Evaluation of secondary care in oral health: a study of specialty clinics in Brazil. Cad Saúde Pública. 2012;28 Suppl:s81-9.^,1919. Paim J, Travassos C, Almeida C, Bahia L, Macinko J. The Brazilian health system: history, advances, and challenges. Lancet. 2011 May;377(9779):1778-97. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60054-8
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60... and with performing these procedures could also explain why examinations were not carried out. These are possible hypotheses for explaining, partially but not completely, the low level of radiographs found. As part of their remuneration, dentists are paid an extra allowance for working in insalubrious conditions and if their work involves repeated contact with equipment that emits x-ray radiation, they are entitled to receive a hazard allowance as well.²⁰20. Brasil. Ministério do Trabalho. Portaria MS/Anvisa nº 518, de 04 de abril de 2003. Exposição do trabalhador a radiações ionizantes ou substâncias radioativas. Diário Oficial da República Federativa do Brasil, Brasília (DF), 2003 abr 7; Seção 1:70. This may represent increased costs for health service management.

Notable differences were observed between the states investigated. Santa Catarina had the best results for quantity and availability of dental radiographic equipment, as well as for performing dental x-rays. Discrepant results between states and regions may be justified by local and regional social and political inequities. For this reason, decentralized actions are a part of SUS policy, and the development of local public policies is part of its guidelines.¹⁹19. Paim J, Travassos C, Almeida C, Bahia L, Macinko J. The Brazilian health system: history, advances, and challenges. Lancet. 2011 May;377(9779):1778-97. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60054-8
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60... ^,2121. Collins C, Araujo J, Barbosa J. Decentralising the health sector: issues in Brazil. Health Policy. 2000 Jun;52(2):113-27. In the case of oral health, state and regional differences are found in both the need for and allocation of regional dental prosthesis laboratories²²22. Aguiar VR, Celeste RK. The need for, and allocation of, regional prosthodontics laboratories in Brazil: an exploratory study. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva. 2015 Oct;20(10):3121-8. doi: 10.1590/1413-812320152010.18212014
https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015201... as well as in the performance of specialized procedures.²³23. Celeste RK, Moura FRR, Santos CP, Tovo MF. Analysis of outpatient care in Brazilian municipalities with and without specialized dental clinics, 2010. Cad Saúde Pública. 2010 Mar;30(3):511-21. doi: 10.1590/0102-311X00011913
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X0001191...

In addition, we found a higher concentration of dental radiographic equipment - and greatest performance of radiograph examinations - in cities with more than 150,000 inhab. Locations with a large population provide referral services to smaller municipalities surrounding them, because they have a higher concentration of health professionals, PHU and hospitals, which could explain the greater amount of equipment and higher levels of radiographic examinations in these municipalities. We therefore highlight the importance of the role of local policies in the consolidation and, consequently, in the performance of SUS activities.¹⁰10. Pucca Jr GA, Gabriel M, Araujo ME, Almeida FC. Ten years of a national oral health policy in Brazil: innovation, boldness, and numerous challenges. J Dent Res. 2015 Oct;94(10):1333-7. doi: 10.1177/0022034515599979
https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034515599979... ^,1919. Paim J, Travassos C, Almeida C, Bahia L, Macinko J. The Brazilian health system: history, advances, and challenges. Lancet. 2011 May;377(9779):1778-97. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60054-8
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60... ^,2424. Chaves SC, Vieira da Silva LM. Oral health care and health decentralization in Brazil: two case studies in Bahia State. Cad Saúde Pública. 2007 May;23(5):1119-31.

Our study revealed: (i) low SUS coverage of dental radiographic equipment in the Southern Brazilian states; and (ii) low performance of dental radiographic procedures in municipalities that did have such equipment. The availability of radiographic equipment did not necessarily imply that radiographic examinations were carried out. Management and administrative measures therefore need to be taken to ensure that such technologies are effectively employed in the care of the population. Municipalities with greater population size had greater availability of dental radiographic equipment, although its coverage was shown to be below recommended levels.

References

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