Older adults' dependence in activities of daily living: Implications for oral health.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between ADL and oral health status in older adults. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: Quantitative, analytical, cross-sectional research with 280 people aged ≥60 in public primary health care centers in the city of Fortaleza, Northeastern Brazil. MEASURES: Collection of sociodemographic data, oral discomfort data, and general health data and application of the Community Oral Health Indicator-COHI and the activities of daily living scale. RESULTS: Significant differences in functional dependence were found between age groups (p < .001), incomes (p = .034), and levels of education (p = .003). Tooth loss (OR = 2.13; p = 0.025), having no teeth (OR = 2.97), difficulties in chewing and swallowing food (OR = 2.56; p = 0.003), problems with taste of food (OR = 2.06; p = .044), poor self-rated general health (OR = 3.7; p = .001), hearing problems (OR = 2.23; p = .009) and speech problems (OR = 3.15; p = .002) increased chances for functional dependence. Dependent individuals were less likely to use toothpaste, thereby increasing the potential for caries (p = .013). Age 80 or older (p < .001), ages 70-79 (p < .001), three or more visible dental cavities (p = .030) and difficulty chewing and swallowing food (p = .027) remained associated with dependence in ADL in the logistic regression model. CONCLUSION: Functional dependence in activities of daily living has implications for the oral health status of older people.

Efficacy of gutta-percha solvents used in endodontic retreatments

Introduction and Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of four different solvents and classify them according to their potential of action. Material and methods: Four solvents were tested: xylene, eucalyptol, orange oil and chloroform. Twelve gutta-percha points (medium-large), sectioned at 10 mm were used and divided into four groups, resulting in three samples for each solvent. The gutta-percha points were weighed on an analytical balance before being subjected to the action of solvents and subsequently put onto watch glasses that were immersed into the solutions for the following times: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 minutes. The percentage of mass loss was registered through weighing after every minute of action of the solvent on the points. Results: All solvents showed the first minute of action as the period of greatest power of dissolution because they act only on the gutta-percha itself and not on the other components of the point, suggesting that at the remaining minutes there would be a lower percentage of dissolution because there was a smaller amount of gutta-percha within the points. Conclusion: Chloroform and xylene showed similar results regarding the rate of dissolution of gutta-percha, yet they were statistically significant higher than eucalyptol and orange oil from 1 to 5 minutes.