Bucal Health in Elderly

Abstract

SUMMARY Objective: To estimate the prevalence and buccal conditions of elderly assisted at the Stomatology Service of the UFPB (Federal University of Paraíba). Material and Methods: A retrospective study was performed by analysing 1791 clinical cards of patients in assistance at that health service, from January 2000 to January 2004. Data were collected on age, sex, DMF index (which quantifies the total of untreated decayed, missing and filled teeth in a person’s mouth) – or CLF-T – cavitated, lost and filled teeth – the wear and need of prosthesis and presence of lesions and/or alterations in the buccal mucosa. Results: Among the 1791 clinical cards analysed, 170 (9.4%) elderly patients were identified, of which 71.2% were women and 28.8% were men, whose average age was 65 ± 5.10 years old, and the DMF index was 25±7.07. It was observed that 25.3% of the patients were edentulous, 92.9% needed dental prosthesis, of which 67.1% needed them but were not wearing them and 32.9% were wearing them. With respect to buccal alterations, 71.9% presented one or more alterations and/or lesions in the buccal mucosa. Of the ten types of alteration and/or lesion observed in the buccal mucosa, the most frequent ones were identified as: with no pathological significance, 56.2%; periodontal disease, 13.0%; white lesions, 10.05%; and lesions caused by prosthesis, 8.9%. Conclusions: There was a quite significant assistance of the UFPB’s service of stomatology to elderly patients throughout the period of the present study. The elderly people presented high DMF index; and they were also in need of prosthesis, having very bad buccal conditions, and high prevalence of buccal lesions and/or alterations. DESCRIPTORS Buccal health. Buccal mucosa. Dental decay.