2026-09-242026-09-242025-03-25MARTINS, Gabriella Karolyne Pompeu. Auto percepção em saúde bucal e sua relação com sintomas depressivos entre docentes universitários no Brasil. Orientadora: Liliane Silva do Nascimento; Coorientadora: Ana Cristina Viana Campos. 2025. 28 f. Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (Bacharelado em Odontologia) – Faculdade de Odontologia, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, 2025. Disponível em: https://bdm.ufpa.br/handle/prefix/10238. Acesso em:.https://bdm.ufpa.br/handle/prefix/10238Individual perceptions of health are directly related to a country's political and economic context, since effective management promotes greater access to and quality of health services. This aspect becomes even more relevant in the field of oral health, considering that Brazil has historically been known as "the country of the toothless", highlighting the low priority given to dentistry in the public sphere. Although a higher level of education and income are associated with the search for preventive care, certain professional categories remain vulnerable due to work overload, low salaries and demands for continuous training, factors that impact their mental health. Among these professionals, Brazilian university professors stand out, who have a high incidence of depressive symptoms. The study aimed to analyze the relationship between self-perception of oral health and the presence of depressive symptoms among Brazilian university professors, considering demographic and socioeconomic factors. This is a crosssectional study, part of the main project entitled “The price of an academic career in Brazil: a multilevel study on the invisibility of university professors’ mental health”. Information from a sample of 1,262 university professors, collected in 2024, was analyzed. The variables included in the study covered demographic aspects (age, gender, self-reported skin color, family income), academic background (doctorate: yes/no), self-perception of oral health, and presence of depressive symptoms. Data were obtained through an electronic questionnaire created in Google Forms and distributed via email, social media, institutional channels, and WhatsApp groups of university professors. The research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Pará, in accordance with Resolution 466/2012 of the National Health Council. The findings revealed that poorer self-perception of oral health is associated with a higher incidence of depressive symptoms among university professors. In addition, it was observed that female professors are more vulnerable to psychological distress. The results highlight the need for institutional policies that integrate the mental and oral health of university professors, considering gender factors. The implementation of preventive strategies and strategies to promote well-being is essential to improve the quality of life of these professionals.Acesso AbertoAutopercepçãoSaúde bucalDepressãoDocentes universitáriosSelf-perceptionOral healthDepressionMental healthUniversity professorsCNPQ::CIENCIAS DA SAUDE::ODONTOLOGIATrabalho de Curso - Graduação - MonografiaAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Brazil