Oral health and quality of life in the municipal senior citizen's social clubs for people over 65 of Valencia, Spain.

BACKGROUND: The world population is aging considerably. The state of elderly's dentition is poor. Many authors agree that the oral health status influence the elderly's quality of life.The objective of our study was to analyze the relation between the oral health status and the general health status through the quality of life of elderly people aged 65 years or more in Valencia, Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional oral health survey and an oral examination have been designed to study an elderly population. There were 202 adults (103 men and 99 women). Age: 65 years of age and over. Randomly selected senior citizen's social clubs. The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) has been used to obtain the health survey. Moreover, the EuroQol-5d and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) have been the tools to obtain the general health status. Finally, sociodemographic and oral health questions have been needed. RESULTS: Descriptive and inferential results have been done and the main results are the following, the mean additive score of the OHIP-14 was 8.88, the mean value of the EuroQol-5d was 0.58 and of the VAS, 72.90. The OHIP-14 was consistently and significantly correlated with the index EuroQol-5d and with variables such as number of teeth, missing teeth, DMFT, dental status (being or not edentulous) and occupation. The EuroQol-5d was related to dental habits, sex, income, systemic pathologies and filled teeth. CONCLUSIONS: The oral health has a high impact on quality of life. The oral health and the general health are closely related. The oral hygiene and getting toothless influence negatively on the quality of life of elderly people.

[Prevalence of oral lichen planus and oral leukoplakia in 112 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma]. / Prevalencia de liquen plano oral y leucoplasia oral en 112 pacientes con carcinoma oral de células escamosas.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association existing between precancerous conditions, like oral lichen planus and oral leukoplakia into 112 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We applied a protocol to 112 patients with OSCC in the "Servicio de Estomatología del Hospital General Universitario de Valencia". We made two groups: 1. patients with precancerous lesions and oral carcinoma, 2. patients with OSCC and no precancerous lesions. RESULTS: The average age was 61.4 years, 85 of them being men and 27 women. The tongue and floor of the mouth were the most common locations. 33.6% of the tumours presented stage TNM I, most of them being histologically well differentiated and the 55.8% were ulcerated. We found differences between two groups of the patients regarding alcohol and tobacco habits, location, size and clinical stage and histological differentiation of the malignant lesions.