Brazilian municipalities expand dental care with mobile home visits and renovated specialty center

The Manaus municipal health department launched a mobile dental unit that provides bedside oral care to bedridden residents, people with disabilities, amputees and elderly patients with dementia. After a survey identified more than 100 eligible users across the city’s five health districts, the team began offering scheduled visits two days a week, delivering full dental procedures, including specialist support when needed. The first home patient was a 15‑year‑old with cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus who received cleaning, restorations and fluoride treatment.

In Campos, the Center of Dental Specialties (CEO) reopened after a nearly two‑month structural renovation that upgraded its facilities to meet current sanitation regulations. The center now operates normal hours plus evening shifts to serve workers and the general public, handling about 30,000 procedures each month across a range of specialties such as periodontics, endodontics, surgery, pediatrics and care for patients with special needs. Patients are referred from local primary health units and must book appointments in person.