Abstract Aim : To demonstrate the feasibility of enabling trained acupuncturist as professionals able to detect oral lesions, with a role in the screening of oral cancer. Methods: This study was conducted in two phases. In the first, 11 acupuncturists were trained for visual detection of oral lesions and support content available on : <www.kankou.com.br>, especially developed for this study. They were evaluated at the end of training by a written exam. The inclusion criteria were to sign the consent form and to obtain a minimum of 90% of correct answers in the assessment. Four acupuncturists fulfilled both criteria and were included as study subjects. In the second phase, the subjects and the researcher (gold standard) examined 43 volunteer patients. The inclusion criterion for volunteers was just to sign the consent form. The volunteers' sample was established by saturation. Volunteers with changes deemed suspicious by the subjects were reexamined 15 days after the first examination. Results: First exam: mouth alterations were detected in 56% (n=24) of the volunteers. Among the alterations, 21% (n=5) were deemed suspicious by the subjects and 8% (n=2) by gold standard. Second exam: two mouth alterations remained suspicious and these volunteers were referred to the Dental Specialty Center for diagnosis and treatment. Compared to the gold standard, no injury remained undetected by the subjects. Conclusions: This study concluded for the feasibility of enabling trained acupuncturist to visually detect oral lesions and have a role in oral cancer screening.

Introdução:Estudos que analizam a produção científica são fundamentais para orientar os pesquisadores.Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o perfil da produção científica na área de Odontologia em Saúde Pública, por meio dos resumos publicados nos Anais da Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa Odontológica no período de 1999 a 2009.Material e método: Foram lidos 22388 resumos publicados nos anais da Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa Odontológica desde 1999 até 2009. A amostra foi de 3061 resumos pertencente a área da Saúde Pública.Resultado: A participação de estudos em Odontologia em Saúde Pública aumentou, com 113 estudos inscritos em 1999 e 441 em 2009. Houve predomínio de estudos científicos em comparação com revisões sistemáticas, meta-análises ou relatos de casos. Na classificação da natureza geral da pesquisa, 71,28% diziam respeito a pesquisa em seres humanos. O maior peso no número total de pesquisas com seres humanos foi no ano de 2002, contribuindo com 79,79% do total. No que diz respeito ao domínio temático, verificou-se que os estudos envolvendo Epidemiologia foram mais frequentes em todos os anos. Ao analisar a origem institucional dos estudos, verificou-se que em todos os anos estudados, as universidades públicas foram responsáveis pela maioria das publicações científicas, 75,6% (n=2315).Conclusão:Os estudos sobre Odontologia em Saúde Pública têm crescido significativamente no período estudado de dez anos. Houve predominância de estudos epidemiológicos, e as do tipo em estudos in vivo e pesquisas científicas.

Introduction: Studies that analyze scientific production are essential to guide researchers.Aim: The purpose of this study was to analyze the profile of scientific production in the field of Dentistry in Public Health, by means of the abstracts published in the Annals of Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa Odontológica in the period from 1999 to 2009.Material and method:First, the reading of all the 22388 abstracts published in the annals of the Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa Odontológica from 1999 to 2009 was undertaken. The sample was 3061 abstract belonging to Public Health area.Result:There was growing participation of studies on Dentistry in Public Health with 113 studies having been inscribed in 1999 and 441 in 2009. There was a predominance of scientific studies in comparison with systematic reviews, meta-analyses, or case reports. In the classification of general nature of the research, 71.28% concerned studies with human beings. The greatest weight in the total number of researches with humans was in 2002, contributing with 79.79% of the total. With regard to the area of thematic domain, it was verified that studies involving Epidemiology were more frequent in all the years. When analyzing the institutional origin of studies, it was verified that in all the studied years, the public universities were responsible for the majority of scientific publications, 75.6% (n=2315).Conclusion: The studies on Dentistry in Public Health have grown significantly in the studied period of ten years. There was predominance of Epidemiological studies, and those of the in vivo and scientific research type.