Nível do preparo de graduandos em odontologia no Brasil em relação ao manejo de emergências médicas: uma revisão integrativa

Abstract

Medical emergencies in dental offices are critical events requiring rapid and effective intervention. Despite the increasing frequency of these complications, current literature indicates high levels of insecurity among undergraduate students. The objective of this study is to analyze Brazilian scientific production regarding the preparedness of dental undergraduate students in managing medical emergencies within the clinical environment. The methodology is an integrative review of quantitative-qualitative literature, carried out in the databases PubMed, LILACS, SciELO, BDTD and Google Scholar, opening primary studies published without restriction to the initial temporal cut. The findings demonstrate a homogeneous scenario of technical unpreparedness and psychological insecurity across different regions of the country. Rates of poor knowledge or lack of confidence exceed 80% in several studies, leading to clinical inertia and fear of protocol failure. Seizure management stood out positively, whereas severe gaps persist in cardiovascular support (CPR), diagnostic differentiation (lipothymia versus syncope), pharmacological dosing, and the handling of oxygen therapy equipment. Progression through academic semesters does not translate into a linear evolution of knowledge retention. There is a chronic deficit in national academic training resulting from fragmented and purely theoretical pedagogical models. Curriculum restructuring with a focus on active methodologies and repetitive, cross-cutting realistic simulations is urgently required.