Self-perception of oral health in older adults from an urban population in Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To analyze if the self-perception of oral health in the urban context is associated with sociodemographic factors that interfere in the life quality of oral health.METHODS Cross-sectional study with convenience sample of older individuals (65 years old or more) enrolled in the Agrupamento de Centros de Saúde de Lisboa Norte (ACES Lisboa Norte – Health Centers Groupings North Lisbon). The self-perception of oral health and associated life quality was evaluated by the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index and the individuals were classified according to sociodemographic characteristics. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was evaluated by Cronbach’s alpha (α). Later, we used binary logistic regression models to characterize the factors associated with the self-perception of oral health, considering the sociodemographic variables and the older adults’ clinical conditions of oral health and establishing the crude and adjusted (to age) odds ratios and their 90% confidence intervals.RESULTS A total of 369 older adults participated in this study, with an average age of 74.2 years (SD = 6.75); 62.9% were female. On average, the index was moderated, with tendency to be high: 32.9 (SD = 3.6; 12-36 interval). The Cronbach’s alpha was high: 0.805. Age, marital status, and the last dental appointment were the factors significantly associated with self-perception of oral health.CONCLUSIONS The study shows that these individuals have a moderate, with tendency to high, self-perception of oral health. The self-perception of oral health assessment allowed us to identify the main associated sociodemographic factors. This instrument can help guiding planning strategies and oral health promotion directed toward a better life quality for this population group.

Self‐perceived dental treatment need among adolescents: A hierarchical analysis

“…A subjective condition associated with the self‐perceived need for dental treatment was toothache reported in the previous six months. Toothache is a condition that limits those affected and negatively impacts their emotional state, sleep patterns and the ability to learn or perform regular activities . Therefore, toothaches are thus one of the most powerful clinical symptoms of something not being right in the body.…”

“…Toothache is a condition that limits those affected and negatively impacts their emotional state, sleep patterns and the ability to learn or perform regular activities. 19 Therefore, toothaches are thus one of the most powerful clinical symptoms of something not being right in the body. In one study, 20 the majority of adolescents who went for a dental consultation had restorations performed or visited the dentist because of pain symptoms.…”

AVALIAÇÃO DA AUTOPERCEPÇÃO DA SAÚDE BUCAL NA QUALIDADE DE VIDA DOS IDOSOS DA UniATI

“…Essa divergência pode estar na singularidade na qual cada indivíduo, com suas crenças, pode perceber sua saúde oral. A reabilitação transcende o conceito de reposição dentária; deve abranger também fatores como bem-estar, função mastigatória e estética favoráveis 15 .…”

“…O GOHAI é um instrumento de avaliação utilizado desde 1990 14 e recentemente foi validado para a língua portuguesa 15 em Lisboa, Portugal, além da validação no Brasil 16 . Atribui sua importância ao fato de ser um instrumento simples, fácil de ser aplicado, com baixo custo e eficiente para avaliar a autopercepção do indivíduo em relação a sua saúde oral e detectar necessidade de tratamento daquela população estudada 15 . Por meio de 12 perguntas, avalia a percepção da saúde bucal em três dimensões: física, psicológica e dor ou desconforto, classificando a autopercepção, na forma simplificada, em "ótimo", "moderado" e "ruim" 17 .…”

Fatores Associados ao Acesso à Saúde Bucal no Brasil: Revisão Sistemática

“…This is more evident in self-perception studies of oral health in the elderly concerning the history of exposure to risk factors, reasons for the use of oral health services, self-image, condition to pay for the service 24,26,50 . The age range of children aged less than 5 years old, only 13.3% had already been to the dentist, and only 4.3% had some type of dental consultation until the first year of life 51 . In a study conducted in Maranhão more than 91% of the children did not use the Oral Health Services -OHS in the six months before the interview 52 .…”