Defiances of oral health education in adolescence

Abstract

To describe the challenges of oral health education in adolescence. The adolescence phase is considered to be very critical for oral health, as it is marked by conflicts, behaviors and changes resulting from the transition period from childhood to adulthood. A bibliographic survey was carried out, selecting indexed journals available in the online databases LILACS and SCIELO using the descriptors "Dentistry"; “Adolescent”, “Education”, “Oral Health”, which comprised the period from 2015 to 2020. Of the 17 articles, there was a lack of care directed at adolescents, despite the various advances already achieved, and the need for more efficient actions that improve access to knowledge and reinforce the adolescent's self-esteem, indicating the importance that the Dental Surgeon has to provide comprehensive care at this stage. The Dental Surgeon must be aware of the hormonal changes that this phase requires, be sensitive to the socioeconomic factors involved that affect the oral health of the individual, promoting effective care.