Correlations Between Quality of Life and Edentulous Areas in Elderly Patients

Abstract

Subject. One of the priority areas of modern scientific and practical medicine is the study of the quality of life of patients with a dental profile. Of particular interest for the study is a group of patients consisting of elderly people.
 In connection with the current global trend in the implementation of socially significant labor and pension reforms, the social indicator characterizing age is increasingly becoming a priority. Overcoming social stereotypes, older people tend to take an active civic position in modern society and such factors as the absence of toothache, open smile, happy laughter, free conversation, not clouded by bad breath, the possibility of taking your favorite food in a public place, etc. etc., actively contribute to this.
 A comprehensive study and correction of the quality of life of the elderly and senile people can contribute to the humane implementation of social reforms carried out both in Russia and around the world, which determined the purpose of this research work.
 This article provides an overview of statistical information characterizing the structure of orthopedic structures used for dental rehabilitation of elderly and senile patients, describes the results of our own studies to identify the relationships between quality of life indicators and types of defects in the dentition in the studied group of patients.
 Methodology. The study was conducted in the form of an observational longitudinal prospective study with a double survey of respondents. An alternative version of THE ORAL HEALTH IMPACT PROFILE, OHIP 14 questionnaire was chosen as a tool for studying quality of life.
 Results. It has been established that defects in the dentition have a significant effect on the quality of life of elderly and senile patients.
 Conclusions. The study of dental morbidity is the basis for the correction of the quality of life of the elderly and senile in order to increase social life expectancy.