Systemic integration of dental care in the Care Network for People with Disabilities: a multiple case study

Abstract It aimed to describe the extent of the systemic integration of dental care in the Care Network for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD), in six Brazilian health regions. Multiple case study with document analysis and interviews with key actors between 2019 and 2021. The categories used were funding, potential coverage of oral health services, coordination of primary care, evaluation/monitoring, integration with the public network, integration with the private and philanthropic network, information and governance system. All regions implemented oral health services followed at the three levels of care and the extent of systemic integration showed different characteristics among regions. The congruent and divergent aspects may be related to the federal induction process and the characteristics of Brazilian federalism. Although the central government plays a regulatory role and defines incentives for inspection by subnational entities of the country's guidelines, the regionalization process is affected by the context, behavior, technical capacity and political options of the regional actors who are autonomous for the decision and organization of their respective territories.