ABSTRACT
La población de adultos mayores ha aumentado en los últimos años y se hace imprescindible determinar su estado de salud oral con el objetivo de orientar la atención de salud con base científica epidemiológica para brindarles una mejor calidad de vida. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el estado de la salud oral de los pacientes adultos mayores postrados. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal no probabilístico. Los datos fueron obtenidos del universo de pacientes inscritos en el programa de Atención Domiciliaria del Paciente Postrado de un centro de atención primaria. La tasa de respuesta obtenida fue 90%. El sexo predominante fue femenino; la media de edad fue 80 años; 60,9% sólo tuvo acceso a la educación primaria. La prevalencia de caries fue 100% y COPD de 25,6. El 40,6% se encontraba completamente edentulo y el 54,7% era portador de prótesis dental. El 32,8% presentaba restos radiculares. El 64,7% era capaz de cepillar sus dientes por sí mismo. El 79,4% consideraba tener una pobre salud oral. El cuidador resultó ser la hija, de aproximadamente 53 años, con nivel educacional bajo. Los adultos mayores son un grupo con gran daño odontológico, con escasos dientes remanentes y deficientes prácticas de higiene oral. Son cuidados por familiares con bajo nivel educacional.
The elderly population is on an increase and it is important for us to know the status of their oral health in order to direct our attention to epidemiological aspects on a scientific basis to provide a better quality of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the status of oral health of the homebound elderly. A Cross sectional study was conducted using a non-probability sampling method. The data was collected from bedridden patients enrolled in a Patient Home Care in a Primary Care Center. The response rate obtained was 90%. The majority of patients were female; their average age was 80. Only 60.9% of those surveyed had access to primary education. The prevalence of caries was 100% and the DMFT index was 25.6; 40.6% were edentulous and 54.7% had dentures. The 32.8% had root fragments; 82.8% were able to brush their teeth by themselves. 79.4% were observed to have poor oral health. In almost all cases, the caretaker was a daughter around 53 years of age, with low education level. The group surveyed had significant dental damage, had only a few remaining teeth and observed poor oral hygiene practices. Their care was also almost exclusively in the hands of family members who had a low education level.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is a relationship between the use of dental services and caries experience in adults and older adults from central Chile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 453 adults, 35-44 years of age, and 438 older adults, 65-74 years of age, was interviewed and examined using World Health Organisation (WHO) methods. Sociodemographic variables were also registered. Caries experience was assessed using the Decayed, Missing and Filled teeth (DMFT) index. Multiple linear regression models were used to determine whether there was an association between the independent variables and caries experience. RESULTS: Caries prevalence was 99.6% for adults [DMFT score = 14.89 (±6.16)] and 99.8% for older adults [DMFT score = 25.68 (±6.49)]. Less than half of the population - 41.7% of adults and 31.5% of older adults - received dental care. Regardless of the age group, there were no differences in the DMFT score between those who received and those who did not receive attention (P > 0.05). When the DMFT findings were analysed in greater detail, people who received dental care and urban participants had more fillings (P < 0.05) than did those who were not provided with attention or lived in rural areas, who, in turn, had more missing teeth (P < 0.05). A higher educational level was associated with a decrease of 1.15 DMFT points (P = 0.003) in the group of older adults. CONCLUSIONS: Adults and older adults from the Maule Region showed severe dental damage from caries. Although rurality and use of services do not seem to affect caries experience, they are associated with differences in fillings and missing teeth.
