[Evaluating productivity targets achievement in Dental Specialty Centers from Maranhão State, Brazil, 2011].

Objective: to evaluate productivity targets achievement (PTA) in Dental Specialty Centers (DSCs) from Maranhão State, Brazil.

Methods: this was an ecologic study using secondary data; an indicator for PTA was created for each subgroup of procedures.

Results: 25 DSCs were evaluated; the PTA was higher for basic procedures (n=19), followed by endodontics (n=11), oral surgery (n=9) and periodontics (n=8); the best results were obtained at DSCs type II; higher PTA was associated with financial anticipation (basic procedures) and higher Human Development Index, life expectancy and social exclusion rate (endodontics); lower PTA was associated with larger population (endodontics/oral surgery), adherence to the Pact for Health (periodontics/endodontics), larger number of specialties (periodontics) and bigger DSC (oral surgery).

Conclusion: most DSCs did not achieve productivity targets, except for basic procedures; socioeconomic and health management characteristics of the municipalities were associated with the PTA; the DSCs characteristics explained little about the PTA.