Archivo Médico de Camagüey (Jan 2018)

Real need for dental prosthesis in a health area

  • Rómell Lazo Nodarse,
  • Bismar Hernández Reyes,
  • Rolando Rodríguez Alpízar,
  • Elizabeth Puig Capote,
  • Yetisleydis Márquez Ventura,
  • Magdalena Sanfor Ricardo

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 1
pp. 17 – 27

Abstract

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Background: teeth, related to the functions of mastication, aesthetics, and phonation represent a fundamental element; therefore, the absence of them causes an aggravation on oral health. Objective: to determine the real need for dental prosthesis in the Northern Health Area in Camagüey city. Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the population from the Northern Health Area of Camagüey city from October 2013 to April 2015. The universe of study was 574 elderly persons over 18 years old and from both sexes. Results: patients over 60 years of age and female were the majority groups. From the 574 people examined, 401 patients presented a real need for prosthetic rehabilitation and the absence of teeth was the main cause. The age group over 60 years had the highest real need for prosthetics. Regarding sex, women required some treatment for prosthesis, because this value was superior to that found in men. Conclusions: the real need for a dental prosthesis prevailed in female patients over 60 years of age and the main cause was tooth loss. DeCS: DENTAL PROSTHESIS; ORAL HEALTH; QUALITY OF LIFE; AGED; EPIDEMIOLOGY, DESCRIPTIVE.