Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between two Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) questionnaires (the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI)) and to investigate the factors associated with the OHRQoL of institutionalized elderly individuals. A cross-sectional multicenter study was performed with 344 institutionalized elderly individuals residing in two Brazilian cities. Six trained researchers interviewed the elderly individuals. Sociodemographic data were collected from medical records. Dental caries experience and the use of and need for dentures were recorded through oral examination performed by two trained examiners. A Likert scale (1–5 points) was used to assess general health and self-perceived oral health. The number of chewing cycles needed to chew a portion of peanuts was used to assess the swallowing threshold. The OHIP-14 and GOHAI were used to evaluate OHRQoL, and statistically significant correlations were assessed using Spearman’s correlation test (p < 0.05). Poisson regression (p < 0.05) was used to investigate the association of OHRQoL with independent variables. Scores on the OHIP-14 (7.57 ± 8.63) and GOHAI (32.46 ± 3.85) were strongly and inversely correlated (r2 = -0.671, p < 0.001), although these measures were associated with different factors. A higher OHIP-14 total score (worse OHRQoL) was associated with female gender, a greater number of healthy teeth, worse self-perceived general health and oral health, and a lower swallowing threshold (p < 0.05). A higher GOHAI total score (better OHRQoL) was associated with a greater number of filled teeth, better self-perceived oral health and a greater swallowing threshold (p < 0.05). In conclusion, worse OHRQoL among institutionalized elderly individuals is associated with worse self-perceived oral health and a greater swallowing threshold.

Resumo A utilização de overdentures suportadas por dois implantes melhora a mastigação de pacientes idosos edêntulos que apresentam rebordos residuais reabsorvidos. No entanto, pouco se sabe sobre os efeitos de overdentures suportadas por único implante central mandibular (SIO) em relação à percepção oral e função mastigatória em tais idosos. O atual estudo comparou os efeitos de próteses totais convencionais (CD) e SIO na capacidade de sensorimotora oral (OSA), função mastigatória e ingestão nutricional de idosos com altura de rebordos mandibulares tipo III e IV de acordo com a Colégio Americano de Prótese. Doze idosos receberam primeiramente novas CD convencionais, as quais, posteriormente, foram transformadas em SIO. Variáveis foram avaliadas após o uso de cada prótese durante 2 meses. Para avaliar OSA, os idosos fecharam os olhos e testaram oralmente a identificação de formatos geométricos confeccionados de cenouras cruas. Um dispositivo cinesiográfico foi utilizado para medir os movimentos durante a mastigação de material de teste (Optocal). A performance mastigatória (MP) foi determinada com o método de fracionamento de peneiras e um diário de alimentação aplicado por 3 dias consecutivos verificou a ingestão de nutrientes com base em uma Tabela Brasileira Padrão de Composição de Alimentos. Os dados foram analisados utilizando os testes Wilcoxon signed rank test e Student’s paired t test (p<0,05). OSA resultados não diferiram de acordo com o tipo de prótese. No entanto, as velocidades de abertura e fechamento durante a mastigação e MP aumentaram após a inserção de SIO (p<0,05). Embora não tenha sido observada diferença na ingestão da maioria dos nutrientes, a ingestão de sódio diminuiu após a inserção de SIO (p<0,05). O uso de SIO não teve efeito sobre OSA, mas melhorou significativamente a mastigação e a ingestão de sódio de idosos com altura de rebordos residuais reduzidas (Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos # RBR-3kgttj).

Abstract The use of two-implant overdentures improves mastication of edentulous elderly patients. However, little is known about the effects of single-implant overdentures (SIO) on oral perception and masticatory function in such elders. This study compared the effects of conventional complete dentures (CD) and SIO on the oral sensorimotor ability (OSA), masticatory function, and nutritional intake of elderly people with residual alveolar mandibular height classified as Class III or IV according to the American College of Prosthodontics. Twelve elders first received new conventional CD, which were later converted to SIO. All variables were evaluated after use of each prosthesis for 2 months. To evaluate OSA, elders closed their eyes and orally identified test pieces prepared from raw carrots. A kinesiographic device was used to measure chewing movements during mastication of a test material (Optocal). Masticatory performance (MP) was determined with the sieving method, and a 3-day food diary verified nutrient intake based on a standard Brazilian Food Composition Table. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and Student’s paired t test (P < 0.05). OSA results did not differ according to prosthesis type. However, opening and closing velocities during chewing and MP increased after SIO insertion (P < 0.05). Although no difference was observed in the intake of most nutrients, sodium ingestion decreased after SIO insertion (P < 0.05). SIO use had no effect on OSA, but significantly improved mastication and sodium intake of elders with decreased residual ridges height (Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials #RBR-3kgttj).