Sensory changes in the oral cavity of the older adult

Abstract

The aging of the population poses several challenges and opportunities in various areas, including health, economic and social care and in this case the aging of the oral cavity is a natural process that involves a series of structural, functional and physiological changes. Within the aging process, sensory changes occur in the oral cavity that can affect the perception and oral function of people. As part of the aging process, sensory changes occur in the oral cavity that can affect perception and oral function. Among the most outstanding are: Ageusia, Hypogeusia, Dysgeusia, Dysphagia, Xerostomia and Dental hypersensitivity. Objective of the study: To determine the most frequent sensory changes in the oral cavity of the elderly.Methodology: Type of observational and cross-sectional study. A convenience sampling was carried out with the prior informed consent of each of the patients. The sample consisted of a total of 75 elderly patients between 60 and 88 years of age who attended the university facilities, to whom a survey was applied by means of a digital form of 20 items in order to know the most frequent sensory changes in the oral cavity of the elderly and then the data were processed. Results: Of the 100% of the patients attended, 90.66% presented some sensory change in the oral cavity, the least found in patients between 60 and 88 years of age with 2.66% were Dysgeusia and Dysphagia. With 6.66% of the total population we found Ageusia followed by Hypogeusia (8%). Eleven percent of the population presented partial or total Xerostomia and 61.33% dental hypersensitivity, this being the most frequent.