Oral health, pain and discomfort analyzed from the perspective of self-reports by brazilian elderly people

Abstract

The objective of this study was to carry out an epidemiological survey, correlating the presence of self-reported orofacial pain and discomfort and personal satisfaction with oral health in an elderly population using the Unified Health System in a Brazilian city. This is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study, conducted with 420 elderly people, of both sexes, residents of the city of Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Participants were interviewed regarding their sociodemographic and economic characteristics, condition and satisfaction regarding oral health and orofacial pain/discomfort ; Fisher's exact test and Cramer's V contingency coefficient were used when relevant. The statistical software used was R (3.6.3). The sample was predominantly female, with the majority self-declared as white, married, retired and attended public school. Dissatisfaction with the condition of oral health, the presence of orofacial pain and the need for dental treatment was noticed in the elderly; complaints of dissatisfaction, headaches and clicking sounds were frequent. It is concluded that the elderly population interviewed in this research presents a certain vulnerability and dissatisfaction with their oral condition and needs more support in terms of local public health.