Avaliação clínica de características bucais, temporais e comportamentais de três grupos de idosos institucionalizados

Abstract

The present study, observational with analytic character of cross-sectional design evaluated oral characteristics, temporal and behavioral of institutionalized elderly in three philanthropic nursing homes located in Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Twenty-three elderly people were examined in the “Abrigo Espírita Oscar José Pithan” (AE), 67 seniors in the “Lar das Vovozinhas” (LV) and 25 elderly in the“Asilo Vila Itagiba” (VI). The data were collected through clinical examination and questionnaires, concerning to the number of edentulous subjects, oral mucosal changes, last dental visit, alcohol dependence and tobacco consumption, to show differences, or similarities between the groups. It was observed that group VI trend to have a lower proportion of edentulous than group LV. Group VI trend to have an average higher oral mucosalchanges than group LV. It seems that the prevalence of smokers influenced this trend. Elderly group AE consulted more the dentist in the last year, compared to groups LV and VI. Group LV trend to have a lower proportion of smokers thangroups AE and VI.Subjects suspected of alcohol dependence (CAGE-positive) were not detected in the group LV. In conclusion, the detected number of edentulous subjects, oral mucosal changes, last dental visit and tobacco consumption were significantly different between the studied groups (AE, LV and VI).