Profile of Dentistry Graduates in Brazil: a Systematic Review

Objectives: The objective of this study is to characterize the profile of dentistry graduates in Brazil according to the National Curricular Guidelines (NCG) of 2002 through a systematic review of the literature.
Methods: The characterization of the graduate profile was based on the subdimensions: generalist, humanistic, autonomous, critical/reflective, and capable of understanding social realities. Searches were conducted in the databases PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, BBO, Scielo, BDTD, the CAPES Theses and Dissertations Catalog, and Google Scholar. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method studies published in Portuguese, English, and Spanish from 2006 onward were included. During the study selection process, 13 articles were included in the methodological evaluation, with a moderate risk of bias, according to the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research.
Results: A predominance of female graduates aged between 26 and 30 years, working in the private sector, with postgraduate education, and exhibiting a generalist profile was identified. The results indicated greater representativeness in the generalist and autonomous subdimensions, to the detriment of the other subdimensions that comprise the graduate profile.
Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of supervised curricular internships and public sector employment as positive factors in shaping the generalist and autonomous profile. However, challenges remain in achieving comprehensive professional education, highlighting the need to enhance pedagogical and curricular strategies to promote a balance among all dimensions of the prescribed profile.