TITLE:
Oral Health and Self-Perception in the Elderly
AUTHORS:
Walda Viana Brígido de Moura, Iris do Ceu Clara Costa, Fábia Barbosa de Andrade, Tainara Lôrena dos Santos Ferreira, Andréa Silvia Walter de Aguiar, Gabriela Eugênio de Sousa Furtado, Maria Eneide Leitão de Almeida
KEYWORDS:
Oral Health, The Elderly, Epidemiology, Self-Image
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.6 No.21,
December
30,
2014
ABSTRACT: Background: Investigating self-perception of oral health among the elderly may contribute towards changing public health and assistance policies in the area. Methods: The present study assessed the oral health status (tooth decay, need for treatment, periodontal status, use of and need for dental prosthesis, soft tissue alterations and self-perception of oral health) of 102 elderly people from two community groups in Fortaleza, Ceará State, Brazil. Results: Mean age was 69.9 years and 82.4% were female. Mean DMFT was 30.17 with a predominant missing component; 63.7% were edentulous. Regarding prosthesis, 29.4% and 67.6% of elderly patients did not use upper and lower dentures respectively, while 66.7% and 78.4% required some type of upper and lower prosthesis respectively. Among valid sextants, 44.3% presented dental calculus and 34.3% presented loss of attachment from 6 to 8 mm. Soft tissue alterations were found in 58.8%. Despite of precarious clinical conditions and dental treatment needs, good oral health perception was found (49%), as well as satisfaction with the appearance of teeth and gums (60.8%). Conclusion: Subjects displayed unsatisfactory oral health conditions, accumulated over time and resulting from the lack of policies favoring this age group. There is a need for oral rehabilitation that enables the recovery of function and esthetics among the elderly, restoring their self-esteem and improving social interaction.