Resumo Avaliou-se, entre idosos brasileiros, se o uso dos serviços odontológicos provenientes do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) é equânime. Utilizaram-se dados individuais de exames conduzidos por profissionais calibrados do levantamento nacional de saúde bucal (2010) e dados contextuais originários do DATASUS e do IBGE. A variável dependente foi o tipo de serviço utilizado: SUS e Outros. Foram conduzidas análises multiníveis através de regressão logística (α = 5%) (OR/IC 95%), através do SPSS 24.0. Participaram 6.303 idosos, a prevalência do uso no SUS foi de 30%, os fatores contextuais associados foram o acesso a banheiro e a água encanada (1,54/1,19-2,00) e o índice de cuidados odontológicos (1,41/1,10-1,81); já os individuais: idade (0,77/0,66-0,90), anos de estudo (1,83/1,53-2,20), renda familiar (2,57/2,20-3,01), motivo da última consulta (0,75/0,60-0,93), no de dentes cariados (1,26/1,08-1,48), no de dentes obturados (0,63/0,54-0,74), uso de próteses (2,23/1,91-2,59), dor de dente (1,36/1.11-1,67), autopercepção da necessidade de tratamento odontológico (1,20/1,12-1,51) e da necessidade de próteses (1,38/1,20-159). O uso no SUS tem sido equânime, porém é preciso organizar o processo de trabalho, viabilizando tal uso de forma regular e preventiva buscando a universalidade e a integralidade.
Abstract This study evaluated whether the use of dental services of the Unified Health System (SUS) by elderly Brazilians is equitable. Individual data collected by qualified professionals during the national oral health survey (2010) and contextual data from DATASUS and IBGE were used. The dependent variable was the type of service used: SUS and others. Multilevel analyses were conducted using logistic regression (α=5%) (OR/CI 95%) using SPSS 24.0. A total of 6,303 elderly people were included and the prevalence of dental service use in SUS was 30%. Associated contextual factors were: access to bathroom and running water (1.54/1.19-2.00) and the dental care index (1.41/1.10-1.81); the individual factors were: age (0.77/0.66-0.90), years of schooling (1.83/1.53-2.20), family income (2.57/2.20-3.01), reason for last dental visit (0.75/0.60-0.93), decayed teeth total (1.26/1.08-1.48), plugged teeth total (0.63/0.54-0.74), dental prosthesis use (2.23/1.91-2.59), dental pain (1.36/1.11-1.67), self-perception of the need for dental treatment (1.20/1.12-1.51) and need for dental prosthesis (1.38/1.20-1.59). Dental service from SUS has been equitable, however it is necessary to organize the working process, enabling its use in a regular and preventive manner, thereby seeking universality and comprehensiveness.