Trabalho, Educação e Saúde - TES (Work, Education and Health) is an open access scientific journal, edited by the Joaquim Venâncio Polytechnic School of Health, from Oswaldo Cruz Foundation.
This article analyzes the qualifications of dental office attendant (DOA) and dental hygiene technician (DHT) graduates, seeking to understand the importance technical courses have not only in improving their professional performance, individual and family incomes, but also their impact on these professionals' better placement in the work market. It shows that, despite the deficiencies these graduates mention, their schooling qualified them appropriately to perform their duties. However, the difficulties these professionals face in terms of collective representation, the lack of social prestige, and the low levels of professional credibility and respect they get from dentists remain hurdles to be faced. The lack of professional legitimacy that characterizes their work causes dental care assistance workers to be at the mercy of work market and health policy oscillations. The article claims that regulating these worker categories may not only lead to technical and ethical protection and to preventing professional monopoly formation, but also ensure social equality and justice norms for oral health professionals.
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