ABSTRACT
Oral health is a prerequisite for a good chewing function, which may have an impact on food choices and nutritional well-being. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between oral health status and nutritional status in the elderly. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 33 elderly people from the Group for the Elderly Interdisciplinary Geriatrics and Gerontology Program, at Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi, RJ, Brazil, completed a questionnaire to collect information on socioeconomic status, eating habits, physical activity and health habits, undertook a clinical oral examination, blood test, and anthropometric measurements, and were allocated into groups according to age. The oral health status was assessed using the index for decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT). The nutritional status was assessed using hemoglobin, hematocrit and albumin concentrations in blood, anthropometric values and the body mass index. RESULTS: Tooth loss was the biggest nuisance to the elderly subjects (57.6 percent), followed by the use of dentures (30.3 percent) and ill-fitting dentures (33.3 percent). 66.6 percent of patients had difficulty in chewing, and 54.5 percent reported this to be due to prostheses and 13.6 percent to the absence of teeth. A significant correlation was found between DMFT and the value of suprailiac skinfold thickness (rho=0.380, p=0.029). CONCLUSION: The results support the temporal association between tooth loss and detrimental changes in anthropometry, which could contribute to increased risk of developing chronic diseases.
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Male , DMF Index , Nutritional Status , Oral Health , Anthropometry , Brazil , Cross-Sectional Studies , Geriatric Assessment , Pilot Projects , Statistics, Nonparametric , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Introdução: A baixa auto-estima entre os idosos pode levar a um aumento na incidência de doenças bucais devido ao desinteresse na realização de adequadas técnicas de higienização buca. Objetivo: O presente trabalho revisou através de um relato da clínica de Odontogeriatria da UFF, os aspectos bio-psico-sociais, encontrados nos idosos com baixa auto-estima. Descrição do caso: Paciente do sexo feminino, com idade de 68 anos, aposentada, compareceu à clínica de Odontogeriatria da UFF para tratamento odontológico. Durante o exame observou-se um desinteresse na manutenção da saúde bucal assim como no auto-cuidado. Conclusão: Constatou-se a que o tratamento odontológico foi relevante no resgate da auto-estima do idoso, induzindo a motivação para o auto-cuidado de maneira a contribuir um bem estar bio-psico-social.
Introduction: Low self-esteem resulting from alcoholism in elderly people can lead to an increased of dental diseases since it can lead to carelessness in appropriate oral hygiene. Objective: This paper reviews a report by the UFF Geriatric dentistry clinic and analyzes the bio-psycho-social in elderly with low self-esteem. Case description: A 68 year old female patient who is a retired teacher consulted the UFF Geriatric dentistry clinic for dental treatment. During the consultation, we observed that the patient had no motivation to do hygiene oral. Conclusion: We recognized that dental treatment was important for recovering self-esteem of elderly, promoting self-care and contributing to a dignified quality of life.