Analysis of socio‐demographic and systemic health factors and the normative conditions of oral health care in a population of the Brazilian elderly

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of socio-demographic and systemic health factors according to the normative conditions of oral health care (dental caries, edentulism, periodontal disease and oral mucosal lesion) in elderly individuals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a group of elderly with access to community health care (n = 200). The normative conditions of oral health were then investigated according to the WHO and the SB Brazil criteria. Bivariate analyses were evaluated by the chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. An estimation of prevalence for the covariates was performed using Poisson's regression models. RESULTS: The prevalence of edentulism and oral mucosal lesions was detected in 58% and 21.5% of elderly patients, respectively. In the dentate subjects, the prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease was 51.2% and 20.8%, respectively. Older men and individuals from lower-income groups exhibited a higher prevalence of dental caries. Elderly women, illiterate individuals, and individuals over the age of 65 years exhibited a higher prevalence of edentulism. Elderly 60-64 years old and those who are employed had a significant association with periodontal disease. CONCLUSION: Socio-demographic factors were associated with some notable oral diseases in the elderly.