Oral hygiene conditions of institutionalized elderly people living in small nursing homes in Porto Alegre

Abstract

Following the population-aging phenomenon, the number and the demands for nursing homes is increasing. Generally, oral health condition of institutionalized elderly people is poor and the maintenance of good patterns of oral hygiene is a problem. The aim of this study is to describe the oral hygiene conditions of elderly people who live in small (< 20) nursing homes of Porto Alegre-RS and to establish the relationship with independents variables: sex, age, time of institutionalization and level of dependence of the residents and number of care givers and price charged by the institutions. Oral hygiene conditions were verified through dental and denture plaque index. The mean obtained to teeth plaque scores was 2.24 (Sillnes and Löe index) and on dentures was 7.14 (Ambjornsen index). The poor oral hygiene condition is prevalent on the examined population when analyzed the independent variables sex, age, time of institutionalization, price, and number of caregivers because it was not demonstrated statistical significance related to the presence or the quantity of plaque on teeth and dentures (p>0,05). The level of dependence was the variable that presented statistical signficant (p=0,024). Independent elders showed lower means of dental plaque when compared to the moderate dependent or dependent elders. It is concluded that oral hygiene condition of this institutionalized elderly people is poor and need multidisciplinary and interinstitutional actions to revert this frame of continued neglect.