INTERSECTIONS BETWEEN SOCIAL WORK AND DENTISTRY: REFLECTIONS ON COMPREHENSIVE CARE IN CONTEXTS OF VULNERABILITY

Abstract

Oral health, traditionally approached from a medical paradigm, requires a broader perspective that integrates the social, economic, and cultural factors that influence its development. This review aimed to reflect on how Social Work can complement and enrich dental practice, promoting comprehensive, humane, and equitable care. A narrative and critical bibliographic review was applied, based on specialized sources from Social Work, Dentistry, and Public Health, which identified that social determinants, such as poverty, education, and limited access to services, directly influence oral health. Social Work contributes to the identification and reduction of these barriers through community intervention, the promotion of healthy habits, and the psychosocial support of patients with dental fear or trauma. It is concluded that interdisciplinary collaboration fosters a holistic understanding of the patient, the reduction of health inequities, and the development of more humane and contextualized clinical practices