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- Evaluation of the strategies used in the prevention of periodontal diseases in school health in PortugalPublication . Magalhães, Miguel Bernardo Pereira Barbosa de; Oliveira, Hélder; Bulhosa, José FriasObjective: To evaluate the technical and scientific knowledge of healthcare providers, responsible for the National School Health Programme, in order to prevent plaque-induced gingivitis and periodontal disease. Methods: A questionnaire with 16 multiple-choice questions was developed and sent to all professionals responsible for the school health in the Centre Region of Portugal. The bibliographic search was performed on Pubmed platform. Results: Among a total of 41 professionals responsible for the school health area of the Centre Region of Portugal, 36 responses were obtained (88%). In this region, it is seen that the promotion of oral health is mainly done by nurses. Additionally, this study discloses that there is a lack of preparation of some professionals, especially doctors and nurses, in the prevention of plaque-induced gingivitis and periodontal disease. This lack of preparation is justified by a misunderstanding about the main etiological factor of both diseases, as well as their correlation. There are still some flaws in the knowledge of brushing techniques, recommendation of mouthwash solutions and there is less recommendation of interdental brushes. The preparation of parents, educators and children for the detection of symptoms of gingival inflammation also represent an important gap. Conclusion: The study reports a need of a greater diversity and reinforcement of the healthcare professionals in school health teams and an improvement of the co-operation between the different professionals (doctors, nurses, dentists and oral hygienists). It is necessary to educate these multidisciplinary teams about the aetiology of the diseases, consequences of their progression, associated systemic diseases and appropriate oral hygiene techniques. It is fundamental to instil the culture of prevention in oral health, enabling these professionals to instruct teachers, parents and children to acquire knowledge on the prevention and detection of gingivitis and periodontitis.