Oral health education for children and adolescents with hearing impairment

experience report

Abstract

The authors report the experience of an oral health education action directed at children and adolescents with hearing impairment enrolled in a reference school for the hearing impaired in a large city in the state of Paraíba in Northeast Brazil. University students participating in an extension project conducted the action with the assistance of three interpreters of Brazilian sign language. The action involved two interventions, the first with children in the first to fifth year of primary school, who received information on the importance of a healthy diet and orientations on toothbrushing and the use of dental floss. The second involved adolescents from the sixth to ninth year, who received clarifications on myths and truths about oral health to address the main questions of the students. Both interventions were successful and ensured the effective participation of the students, who engaged in the activities and shared knowledge with the children and adolescents. University extension programs constitute an important aspect of academic education and the humanist formation of future dentists, enabling them to share with the community knowledge acquired during their university education and providing rich health education opportunities.