Abstract Objective: To investigate the impact of inadequate prostheses on older adult’s quality of life at the Integrated Health Center for Older Adults in the northeastern city of Brazil. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 147 older adults aged 60-90 years old in João Pessoa, Brazil. Interviews and oral examinations were carried out to collect demographic characteristics (age and gender) and clinical dental measures (use of inadequate upper and/or lower dental prosthesis) and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14 Questionnaire). The Pearson Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to evaluate the association between the OHIP-14 dimensions and the use of unsatisfactory prostheses (p<0.05). Results: The sample consisted of 90.5% of women being a mean age of 69.86 (± 6.60) years. Individuals with inadequate prostheses had a higher impact on quality of life, with a predominant prevalence ratio for developing physical pain (PRR = 3.52; CI = 4.69-2.65), psychological discomfort (PRR = 5.0; CI = 5.85-4.26) and psychological inability (PRR = 1.71; CI = 2.56-1.14). Conclusion: The use of inadequate prostheses had a negative impact on the quality of life of the older adult population. Therefore, services, which provide health care for older adults, should overcome this reality by providing broad access to oral rehabilitation that is appropriate to the needs of each individual.

Resumo O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar a associação entre o uso e a necessidade de prótese dentária e qualidade de vida em idosos de um Centro de Referência de Atenção ao Idoso no Nordeste do Brasil. Um estudo transversal foi desenvolvido com a participação de 199 idosos de ambos os sexos. Os dados clínicos foram coletados conforme a Organização Mundial de Saúde, através de exames clínicos e questionário sobre dados socioeconômicos, índice Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), por um examinador previamente treinado (kappa=0,91). Os dados foram analisados pelo Mann-Whitney, regressão de Poisson (p>0,05). A amostra consistiu de 84,9% de mulheres, com idade média de 70,02 (dp±6,50) anos. Houve associação independente entre a qualidade de vida e as covariáveis sexo e necessidade de prótese. Idosos do sexo masculino apresentaram menores valores do escore (RP=0,734; p=0,011) do que as mulheres. Indivíduos sem necessidade normativa de prótese dentária apresentaram menores valores do OHIP-14 (RP=0,767; p=0,003) do que aqueles com necessidade.

Abstract This study aimed to explore the association between use and need of dental prostheses to the quality of life in elderly individuals in a Referral Center for Elderly Care in the northeastern of Brazil. A cross-sectional study was developed with 199 elderlies of both sexes. Data were collected from clinical examinations (WHO criteria) and a questionnaire regarding socioeconomic status, Oral Health Impact Profile index (OHIP-14) by a single calibrated examiner with Kappa = 0.91. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test, Poisson regression (p<0,05). The sample consisted of 84.9% women, mean age of 70.02 (sd±6.50) years. There was an independent association between quality of life and the covariates sex and need of dental prostheses. Men showed lower values of the score (PR = 0.734, p = 0.011) than women. Individuals without normative need for dental prostheses showed lower values of OHIP-14 (PR = 0.767; p = 0.003) than those in need.

Resumo O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar a associação entre o uso e a necessidade de prótese dentária e qualidade de vida em idosos de um Centro de Referência de Atenção ao Idoso no Nordeste do Brasil. Um estudo transversal foi desenvolvido com a participação de 199 idosos de ambos os sexos. Os dados clínicos foram coletados conforme a Organização Mundial de Saúde, através de exames clínicos e questionário sobre dados socioeconômicos, índice Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), por um examinador previamente treinado (kappa=0,91). Os dados foram analisados pelo Mann-Whitney, regressão de Poisson (p>0,05). A amostra consistiu de 84,9% de mulheres, com idade média de 70,02 (dp±6,50) anos. Houve associação independente entre a qualidade de vida e as covariáveis sexo e necessidade de prótese. Idosos do sexo masculino apresentaram menores valores do escore (RP=0,734; p=0,011) do que as mulheres. Indivíduos sem necessidade normativa de prótese dentária apresentaram menores valores do OHIP-14 (RP=0,767; p=0,003) do que aqueles com necessidade.

Abstract This study aimed to explore the association between use and need of dental prostheses to the quality of life in elderly individuals in a Referral Center for Elderly Care in the northeastern of Brazil. A cross-sectional study was developed with 199 elderlies of both sexes. Data were collected from clinical examinations (WHO criteria) and a questionnaire regarding socioeconomic status, Oral Health Impact Profile index (OHIP-14) by a single calibrated examiner with Kappa = 0.91. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test, Poisson regression (p<0,05). The sample consisted of 84.9% women, mean age of 70.02 (sd±6.50) years. There was an independent association between quality of life and the covariates sex and need of dental prostheses. Men showed lower values of the score (PR = 0.734, p = 0.011) than women. Individuals without normative need for dental prostheses showed lower values of OHIP-14 (PR = 0.767; p = 0.003) than those in need.