[Structure of dental services in a social security system: Córdoba, Argentina]

We describe here the results of a survey carried out to determine the nature, extent and distribution of the dental service provided by the Board of the University Personnel Social Assistance (Dirección de Asistencia Social del Personal Universitario [DASPU] From 1988 to 1990. Such survey was performed on the bases of a representative sample of assistance recipients. The greatest dental service demand was registered among the group of persons of 25-44 years-old (40.3% of the total), although the rendered services per person/years increased with the member's ages. Restorative Dental and Prosthesis registered the highest occurrence (50.2% of the total). Preventive Odontology practices were infrequent (1.2%) while Odontopediatric was the less demanded (0.3%). 31.8% of the assistance was provided by DASPU own services, Prothesis being the most predominant kind. As for external effectors (62.3%), the most frequent were those of Dental Operating. It is concluded that the demanded dental services were mainly curative and reparative. The reorganization of the Odontology Service may increase the system' performance efficiency and effectiveness.