Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the distribution of edentulism and estimate the prevalence of functional dentition and shortened dental arch among elderly population. METHODS: A population-based epidemiological study was carried out with a sample of 5,349 respondents aged 65 to 74 years obtained from the 2002 and 2003 Brazilian Ministry of Health/Division of Oral Health survey database. The following variables were studied: gender; macroregion of residence; missing teeth; percentage that met the World Health Organization goal for oral health in the age group 65 to 74 years (50% having at least 20 natural teeth); presence of shortened dental arch; number of posterior occluding pairs of teeth. The Chi-square test assessed the association between categorical variables. The Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used to assess differences of mean between number of posterior occluding pairs teeth, macro-region and gender. RESULTS: The elderly population had an average of 5.49 teeth (SD: 7.93) with a median of 0. The proportion of completely edentulous respondents was 54.7%. Complete edentulism was 18.2% in the upper arch and 1.9% in the lower arch. The World Health Organization goal was achieved in 10% of all respondents studied. However, only 2.7% had acceptable masticatory function and aesthetics (having at least shortened dental arch) and a mean number of posterior occluding pairs of 6.94 (SD=2.97). There were significant differences of the percentage of respondents that met the World Health Organization goal and presence of shortened dental arch between men and women. There were differences in shortened dental arch between macroregions. CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian epidemiological oral health survey showed high rate of edentulism and low rate of shortened dental arch in the elderly population studied, thus suggesting significant functional and aesthetic impairment in all Brazilian macroregions especially among women.
Highlights
Missing dental elements have a considerable impact on mastication, digestion, phonation, and aesthetics and have been associated with increased predisposition to geriatric diseases.[3]
The elderly population had an average of 5.49 teeth (SD: 7.93) with a median of 0
The World Health Organization goal was achieved in 10% of all respondents studied
Summary
Missing dental elements have a considerable impact on mastication, digestion, phonation, and aesthetics and have been associated with increased predisposition to geriatric diseases.[3]. In Brazil, a country with serious social disparities,[15] an epidemiological oral health survey conducted in 2003 by the Brazilian Health Ministrya reported approximately 30 million edentulous individuals. Public oral health care services for adult population have historically focused urgent care, which often involves mutilating approaches such as dental extractions.[2] there is an increase in the decayed, missing and filled teeth index among individuals aged between 65 and 74 years due mainly to the higher rate of the missing teeth component. The World Health Organization (WHO)[8,27] established in 1982 a goal of 50% of individuals aged between 65 and 74 years having functional and aesthetic dentition with at least 20 natural teeth by the year 2000. According to the WHO Report 826, there is no need for prosthetic replacement if an individual has 20 teeth without occlusal disharmony causing myofascial pain or temporomandibular joint disorders.[27]
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