A IMPORTÂNCIA DOS CUIDADOS ODONTOLÓGICOS EM PACIENTES INTERNADOS EM UNIDADE DE TERAPIA INTENSIVA

Hospitalized patients, specifically in ICUs, are unable to perform daily oral hygiene on their own, and are therefore more susceptible to developing more diseases if their oral cavity is not adequate, which can further aggravate their systemic condition. The objective of the study is to highlight the relevance of dental care in patients hospitalized in ICUs, exploring the main forms of action of the dentist and proposing preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic measures. The methodology was based on a bibliographic review, using articles from the SciELO, PubMed and BVS databases, published between 2014 and 2024. Complete and relevant articles for the topic were considered, while incomplete, duplicated or out-of-time texts were excluded. The reviewed literature highlights the connection between oral health and the prevention of systemic complications, such as heart and lung diseases. This study indicates that the presence of a dentist in multidisciplinary teams in ICUs is essential to prevent oral complications that can worsen the systemic health of patients in addition to prolonging the length of hospital stay.