Edentulism, need for dentures, and self-perception of oral health among institutionalized older people

Abstract

The aim was to describe the oral health status of institutionalized older people, focusing on edentulism, need for dentures, and Self-Perception of Oral Health (SPOH), and to explore the association with individual factors. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Ponta Grossa, in the South of Brazil, with a convenience sample of older people living in three Long Stay Institutions for the Elderly. Using a structured questionnaire, data on demographic, general, and oral health characteristics and access to health services were collected. In the oral examination, the Index of Decayed, Missing and Filled permanent Teeth (DMFT), number of teeth present, use and need for dental prosthesis, and presence of oral lesions were evaluated. 130 older people were evaluated, most of them over 80 years old (62.20%). The mean DMFT was 30.62 (± 2.85), 62.31% of attendees were edentulous, 41.54% used, and 79.23% needed dental prosthesis. Oral lesions were identified in 35.42% of those evaluated and 64.86% of the participants classified their SPOH as good. It is concluded that the oral health of the participants was considered poor, from a clinical point of view, taking into account the high prevalence of edentulism and the need to use dental prosthesis.