Abstract The aim of this study was to assess self-reported history of root canal treatment (SRHRCT) as a method for detecting the presence of root canal treatment (RCT) and apical periodontitis (AP) in a southern Brazilian subpopulation. In this cross-sectional study, 136 military police officers from the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil, were included. The participants were interviewed and full-mouth periapical radiographs were taken. A calibrated examiner determined the presence of RCT and AP by applying standardized criteria. The diagnostic accuracy of SRHRCT was calculated separately for RCT and AP. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (+PV and -PV), efficiency, and positive and negative likelihood ratios (+LR and -LR) were estimated. The mean age of the participants was 34.1 ± 10.4 years and 88.2% were males. Overall, SRHRCT demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for RCT, but not for AP: sensitivity (RCT = 0.960, AP = 0.757) and specificity (RCT = 0.835, AP = 0.631). The estimated values for PV and LR were: +PV (RCT=0.777, AP=0.396), -PV (RCT = 0.972, AP = 0.890), +LR (RCT = 5.853, AP = 2.057), and -LR (RCT = 0.046, AP = 0.383). SRHRCT proved to be a good predictor of the presence of RCT, but a weak predictor of AP in this subpopulation.

Resumo Objetivo: revisão integrativa sobre o tratamento de candidíase bucal, cárie radicular e xerostomia com foco na Atenção Primária à Saúde, na população idosa. Método: busca de artigos na base de dados MEDLINE/PUBMED sobre as alterações citadas, com os descritores “Geriatric dentistry”, “Oral health”, cruzados com descritores correspondentes às três patologias, ativado o filtro “Clinical trial”, como também termos específicos para as situações clínicas estudadas. Foram excluídos os estudos que não possuíam o escopo da Atenção Primária ou da odontogeriatria. Resultado: candidíase bucal: foram analisados seis ensaios-clínicos randomizados e um quase-experimento sobre o tratamento da estomatite protética por medicamentos e/ou pela desinfecção das próteses por diferentes técnicas; cárie radicular: três ensaios clínicos randomizados foram incluídos, os quais testaram o uso de bochechos com solução de clorexidina e instrução de higiene bucal associada ou não a outros fármacos; e xerostomia: foram analisados dois artigos que utilizaram diversos fármacos e a massagem funcional de glândulas salivares e músculos associados. Conclusão: Os resultados demonstram variadas opções de tratamento para as situações clinicas destacadas devendo ser adequadas as características dos serviços e da população atendida, tendo em vista que não foi estabelecido um tratamento padrão a ser utilizado na Atenção Primária à Saúde. Estratégias com foco em tecnologias leves, tais como a educação em saúde, parecem prover bons resultados. Todavia, o estudo agrega conhecimento aos profissionais de saúde na busca de um atendimento odontológico cada vez mais resolutivo e qualificado para o idoso na atenção primária à saúde.

Abstract Objective: an integrative review of the treatment of oral candidiasis, root caries and xerostomia among the elderly population, focusing on Primary Health Care, was carried out. Method: scientific articles were collected from the MEDLINE/PUBMED database using the keywords "Geriatric dentistry" and "Oral health", crossed with corresponding descriptors, together with specific terms for the pathologies studied, and with “the clinical trial” filter activated. The abstracts of the articles were read by three researchers. Result: oral candidiasis: six randomized clinical trials and one quasi-experimental design study, on the treatment of prosthetic stomatitis by medication and/or the disinfection of dentures by different techniques, were identified; root caries: three randomized clinical trials were included, which tested the use of mouthwash with chlorhexidine solution and oral hygiene instruction associated or otherwise with other drugs; and xerostomia: two articles were analyzed using various medications, and the functional massage of the salivary glands and associated muscles. Conclusion: The results demonstrate a variety of treatment options for the studied clinical situations, although these should be adapted to the characteristics of the services and the population, as standard treatment in Primary Health Care has not been established. Strategies based on soft technologies, such as health education, seem to provide good results. The present study provides additional knowledge for health professionals in search of more resolutive and qualified dental care for the elderly in primary health care.