Author:

• Simone Dutra Lucas - Lucas, S.D - Belo Horizonte - Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais - <sdlucas@uai.com.br>
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7875-4492

Co-author(s):

• Flávio de Freitas Mattos - Mattos, F.F. - Contagem, MG - Faculdade de Odontologia da UFMG - <f.f.mattos@uol.com.br>
• João Augusto do Carmo Melo - MELO, J.A.C - Prefeitura Municipal de Santa Luzia - <joaodemel@yahoo.com.br>
• Mara Vasconcelos - VASCONCELOS, M. - Faculdade de Odontologia da UFMG - <maravas@uol.com.br>
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0316-4591
• Mauro Henrique Nogueira Guimarães de Abreu - Abreu, M. H. N. G. - Faculdade de Odontologia da UFMG - <maurohenriqueabreu@ig.com.br>
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8794-5725
• Natália Enes Ferreira - Ferreira, N. E. - Prefeitura Municipal de Contagem - <nataliaenes@hotmail.com>
• Simone Dutra Lucas - Lucas, S.D. - Faculdade de Odontologia da UFMG - <simonedlucas@gmail.com>

Thematic Area:

Saúde Bucal

Abstract:

Abstract
This research was conducted with patients who sought emergency care from the discipline Clínica Integrada de Atenção Primária IV – CIAP IV at the Dental School of UFMG and from the Dental Center of a medium size city in – the state of Minas Gerais. Objectives: To identify, through the metaphors used by patients to express toothache, how the social representations of this issue are generated. Methods: A total of 35 individuals of both genders who sought emergency care for toothache took place in the study. Content theme analysis was used. Results: Social representations of toothache are generated as people search their life experiences for words to decode the problem. Prior sensations and feelings and even imagination, generate metaphors to explain the suffering. A toothache is often compared with the worst feelings ever experienced. Conclusion: Toothache represents great suffering for people seeking emergency dental care. This fact may help developing further public oral health policies, considering that a socially deprived population is more often affected by toothache.

Keywords:

Pain Toothache Social representations Metaphors

Content:

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