Oral health in institucionalizated elderly patients in two care centers in Passo Fundo - RS

Objective: Considering that oral health, as well as general health are fundamental for maintaining the quality of life, the objective of this study was to investigate the oral health of the elderly population in the São José and Nossa Senhora da Luz Care Centers in Passo Fundo/ RS, Brazil. Methods: a clinical examination was performed in 107 elderly patients, to evaluate the oral health status as regards periodontal disease, edentulism, physiological alterations, and mucosa infection by the Candida fungus, smoking habit, use of medications and denture use and conditions of this population. The data were submitted to statistical Chi-square test at 5% of significance. Results: 107 patients, ranging from 52 to 106 years old, were assessed (average = 76.16, d.p. = 9.53). Among the interviewed, 61.6% were women, aged 78 years. Furthermore, 26.2% of the sample were smokers, of whom 67.8% were men. Among patients using medication (81.3%), the majority used cardiovascular (53.3%) and benzodiazepines (42.1%), both associated with dry mouth. The oral hygiene was considered precarious in 87.8% of the elderly and was linked to gingivitis and periodontitis in patients with teeth. Edentulism was present in 68.2% of the individuals, among whom 53.4% used complete maxillary dentures and 30.1% complete mandibular dentures. It was observed that 41.13% of those surveyed had some type of candidiasis. Conclusions: Poor oral hygiene linked to the habit of smoking, use of drugs and prolonged use of these dentures leads to a deterioration of the oral health in elderly institutionalized persons, with consequent unfavorable impacts on the quality of life