Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the association between regular use of dental services and tooth loss by elderly linked to eleven Family Health Facilities in southern Brazil. This cross-sectional study evaluated 438 elderly. A standard questionnaire was used and oral health clinical variables were obtained by a trained dentist. The main study outcome, namely, the regular use of dental services, was obtained through a single question. Descriptive analyses and Poisson regression using Stata 12.0 were performed. The analysis of the exposure variables and the outcome in the unadjusted regression analysis revealed a positive association between regular use of oral health services for the elderly with 9-11 years of schooling (PR = 3.89; 95%CI 1.77-8.58) compared to individuals with 4 years of schooling, up to 9 teeth (PR = 2.50; 95%CI 19.0-5.72) and 10 or more teeth (PR = 3.89; 95%CI 1.58-9.57) compared to individuals who do not have teeth. When considering the primary exposure, tooth loss, through adjusted analysis, individuals with 10 or more teeth (PR = 3.51; 95%CI 1.37-8.99) have a higher prevalence of regular use of oral health services compared to individuals without teeth. The study identified that having teeth is positively associated with regular use of oral health services among the elderly.
Highlights
Increased life expectancy has resulted in the growth of the elderly population in the last decade[1]
Due to the few studies on the subject, this study aimed to verify the association between the report of the regular use of oral health services and dental loss of a population of older adults linked to eleven family health facilities of the city of Pelotas (RS)
When analyzing the exposure variables and the report of the regular use of oral health services, considering the elderly who mentioned only the use of regular oral health service, the study pointed out prevalence of oral health services on a regular basis for the elderly with 9-11 years of schooling (PR = 3.89 CI 95% 1.77-8.58) compared to those with up to 4 years of age study
Summary
Increased life expectancy has resulted in the growth of the elderly population in the last decade[1]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the elderly are those 60 years of age or older in developing countries and sixty-five years of age or older in developed countries[2]. It is estimated that Brazil will have the sixth largest elderly population in the world by 2020, with about 32 million people. Besides the changes observed in the population pyramid, the epidemiological transition, characterized by the growing number of aging diseases, results in higher demand of this population for health services[3]. Concerning Brazilian oral health services, in the last decades, there was a predominance of iatrogenic-mutilating actions in the care provided to this age group[4,5]. The implementation of the National Oral Health Policy in 2003 triggered a movement for the reorganization of oral health care, based on the principles and guidelines of the Unified Health System (SUS), with the development of practices with an emphasis on care, prevention and promotion of oral health[6]
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