Self-perceived oral health among the elderly: a household-based study

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the self-perceived oral health status of elderly persons and its relation to self-care practices, the use of public oral health services, denture use, dental complaints and impact on everyday activities. Method: The 95 subjects of this quantitative, analytical and cross-sectional study were from Fortaleza, a state capital in the northeast of Brazil. They were aged 60 years or over and were mentally capacitated according to the Mini-Mental State Examination. The study parameters included gender, age group, race/ethnic background, level of schooling, household income, self-care practices, use and need for dentures, dental complaints, impact on everyday activities, access to oral health services, and access to information. The outcome parameter was self-perceived oral health. To verify the association between the study parameters and the outcome parameter, prevalence ratios were calculated and submitted to the Chi-squared test, the Fisher's exact test, the Mann-Whitney test and multivariate regression analysis. Result: self-perceived oral health was described as good/excellent significantly more often by women than by men ( p=0.044). Oral health had a negative impact on everyday activities among nearly one third of the sample (n=29; 30.5%). The mean and median values of dental complaints and impact on everyday activities were significantly lower for subjects reporting good/excellent oral health than for subjects reporting poor/fair oral health. Conclusion: it is expected that these results will strengthen oral health care for elderly persons, in order to maintain their quality of life during this stage of life.

Impact of oral and mental health over the quality of life of older people in a Family Health Unit

“…The sociodemographic profile of the studied population, with a prevalence of women with few years of schooling and low income, is similar as the one seen in other household-based studies with older people in the Family Health Strategy, and indicative of this population group's social vulnerability [18,19]. In addition, the population of this study follows a trend of using superior prosthesis (81.2%) or needing one.…”

“…Older people enrolled in the Family Health Strategy have a generally positive oral health self-perception, although some betrayed shame when smiling or talking. This may have impacts on social life, also leading to nervousness or irritation, low quality of sleep, and difficulties to perform daily tasks [18].…”

Oral Health Impact Profile: need and use of dental prostheses among Northeast Brazilian independent-living elderly

“…Psychological inability and psychological disability are a point to be highlighted in this research because they emphasize that dental losses are directly conditioned to the feeling of humiliation, embarrassment, incompleteness and resignation that inhibits the individual from relaxing and being spontaneous in relation to their feelings, being an important point that impacts of OHRQoL 22,24,25 .…”

Uso de Prótese e Autopercepção de Saúde Bucal entre Idosos

“…Os idosos voluntários, com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos, denota uma autopercepção de saúde bucal baixa em mais da metade dos indivíduos, constituída assim principalmente por mulheres como mostra alguns estudos (NOGUEIRA. et al, 2017;RIHS, et al, 2012;SÔNEGO, et al, 2013 (MESAS, et al, 2010) .…”