Stomatognathic system screening in preschoolers and its importance for the elaboration of an intervention program in health

ABSTRACT Purpose: to describe the results obtained in the stomatognathic system screening applied in preschoolers of the public and private school systems. Methods: a cross-sectional, observational study randomly which selected four preschools linked to the Diretoria Regional de Educação. Two municipalities were drawn, and the educational institutions located in the city Center were selected. After submission of the proposal to the secretaries, managers and family members, the consent was granted for the screening involving face structures, muscle tonus, teeth, occlusion, mobility, speech, breathing, chewing and swallowing, by means of a tested and standardized protocol for evaluation of the stomatognathic system in a synthesized way. The results were submitted to descriptive statistical analysis and the chi-square test, with a significance level of 5%. Results: a total of 218 preschoolers, aged between two and six years old, participated in the study. Most of the participants, regardless of the institution attended, presented normality of the aspects surveyed. However, when comparing preschool children results among the institutions, there were significant differences for facial symmetry, speech, swallowing (for students in public schools), structural aspects and muscle tonus (private schools). Conclusion: the results obtained allowed the differentiated planning of health promotion and preventive actions of orofacial myofunctional disorders for preschoolers of distinct institutional systems, determining the importance of epidemiological surveys in health promotion spaces.