THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DENTIST IN THE PRE- AND POST-OPERATIVE PERIOD OF BARIATRIC SURGERY: A REVIEW OF NARRATIVE LITERATURE

Introduction: Bariatric surgery is considered one of the most used strategies for treating obesity, reducing weight and improving associated comorbidities. However, for the treatment to be successful, multidisciplinary monitoring is necessary, in which the dentist plays an essential role in prevention and treatment. This is because the nutritional and metabolic changes resulting from the procedure can directly impact oral health, favoring complications such as dental erosion, xerostomia, tooth wear and periodontal diseases. When not released and treated appropriately, such conditions can compromise surgical recovery and the quality of the entire patient. Objective: This work aims to present, through a narrative literature review, the need to understand how oral health can be linked to general health and the correlation of oral manifestations in patients undergoing bariatric surgery, as well as post- and pre-operative oral changes. Methodology: The research was carried out through a narrative bibliographic review, including articles published between 2004 and 2025, available in databases such as SciELO and Google Scholar, in Portuguese and English. Studies that directly addressed the repercussions of bariatric surgery on oral health were selected, excluding those with no relevance to the topic. Conclusion: It is expected that the results of this review reinforce the importance of including the dentist in the multidisciplinary team, emphasizing the need for preventive and therapeutic strategies aimed at maintaining oral health. In this way, the aim is to contribute to the success of bariatric treatment and to improving the quality of life of patients.