Abstract Objective: To analyze the perception of undergraduates' students in a Dentistry School about the impact of basic disciplines on their professional development, as well the integration of this knowledge with the professional sphere. Material and Methods: It is a qualitative research study carried out through focus groups comprised of dentistry students close to finishing their degree. The data were analyzed by the thematic content analysis. Results: Four categories derived from the empirical material: "Disassociation of basic disciplines within the professional cycle", "Autonomy or transference of responsibility", "Campus-DOD distancing" and "Humanization of health care from first moments". The narratives showed the difficulties faced in order to effect, indeed, integration between the basic cycle and the curricular components of the vocational cycle. It was also evident the decontextualization of the basic cycle with the perspective of approach with professional practice. In addition, student's protagonist posture and learning how to humanize health care were identified as important factors to be debated and improved in the curriculum from the beginning of the course. Conclusion: The difficulties faced in order to effect an actual integration between the basic disciplines and the professional disciplines bring undesirable consequences upon undergraduate, being fundamental that the construction of new pedagogical projects means an effective integration of the contents to the curriculum design, avoiding any fragmentation between the basic and vocational cycle.

Abstract: One of the main premises of the Dentistry curricular guidelines is the integration of knowledge, bringing together the basic, clinical and public health areas. The aim of this research was to understand how the contents of the “basic cycle” contribute to dentists’ academic training. A qualitative study was performed, and developed through interviews of focal groups consisting of students from 2nd to 4th semester. The analysis produced five categories: decontextualization of social sciences, curricular structure, the gap between the basic and professional cycles, student resignation to the “basic cycle”, and teachers at the core of the process. It was concluded that the dichotomy between the basic and professional cycles complicates curricular integration and compromises students' commitment to their graduation. As a result, it is necessary to incorporate the principles provided in the Dentistry curricular guidelines, such as students’ proactive behavior towards the learning process and the teacher's role as a facilitator.

Resumen: Una de las principales premisas de las directrices curriculares de Odontología es la integración de conocimientos, articulando áreas básicas, clínicas y de salud pública. El objetivo de esta investigación fue comprender cómo los contenidos del “ciclo básico” contribuyen a la formación académica de los dentistas. Se realizó un estudio cualitativo, desarrollado a través de entrevistas a grupos focales formados por alumnos de 2o. a 4o. semestre. El análisis mostró cinco categorías: descontextualización de las ciencias sociales, estructura curricular, distancia ciclo básico-ciclo profesional, renuncia al “ciclo básico” y profesores en el núcleo del proceso. Se concluyó que la dicotomía entre los ciclos básico y profesional obstaculiza la integración curricular y compromete la implicación de los estudiantes con su graduación y la incorporación de los principios señalados en las directrices curriculares de Odontología, como el comportamiento proactivo de los estudiantes hacia el proceso de aprendizaje y el papel del profesor como facilitador.

Resumo: O Sistema Nacional de Avaliação do Ensino Superior tem como objetivo acompanhar os cursos de graduação, permitindo que adequações sejam realizadas, sendo um de seus componentes o Exame Nacional de Desempenho do Estudante (ENADE). O objetivo do estudo foi comparar as questões ¬das provas dos ENADE 2004 e 2010 com os conteúdos das disciplinas do Curso de Odontologia da UFRN a partir da percepção de alunos concluintes e professores. Para consolidação das respostas as disciplinas foram identificadas a partir dos conteúdos previstos nas Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais classificados em ciências básicas, saúde coletiva, propedêutica clínica e clínica odontológica. Observou-se desarticulação entre ciclo básico e ciclo profissionalizante, uma vez que os alunos sinalizaram nas respostas que não há coerência entre a extensa carga horária das disciplinas básicas e os conteúdos abordados sobre estas no ENADE. Uma das limitações para avanço nesta articulação é o isolamento destas disciplinas em Departamentos e Centros de Ciências sem articulação, os quais contribuem para a fragmentação do ensino em disciplinas isoladas e descontextualizadas, situação presente em várias instituições de ensino superior no Brasil. Para transformação desta situação é fundamental a autoavaliação constante que viabilize empoderamento aos atores diretamente envolvidos e interessados em um ensino superior de qualidade.

Abstract: The National System of Evaluation of Higher Education has the objective of accompanying the undergraduate courses and to allow adjustments to be made. One of its components is the National Student Performance Exam (ENADE). The objective of the study was to compare the questions from the ENADE 2004 and 2010 tests with the contents of the subjects of the UFRN Dentistry Course, based on the perception of graduate students and teachers. To consolidate the answers, the disciplines were identified based on the contents of the National Curricular Guidelines classified as basic sciences, collective health, clinical propaedeutics and odontological clinics. There was disarticulation between the basic cycle and the vocational cycle, since the students indicated in the answers that there is no coherence between the extensive workload of the basic subjects and the contents covered about them in ENADE. One of the limitations for advancement on this articulation is the insularityof these disciplines in Departments and Centers of Sciences without articulation, which contribute to the fragmentation of teaching in isolated and decontextualized disciplines, present situation in several institutions of higher education in Brazil. In order to transform this situation, a constant self-assessment that empowers the actors directly involved and interested in quality higher education is fundamental.