title: [Influence of acculturation on self-perceived oral health among Japanese-Brazilian elderly].
abstract: Utilizing a qualitative methodology, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of acculturation on the elderly population and self-perception of their oral health. The target population included 40 individuals, divided into two groups: first- and second-generation Japanese immigrants. Through recorded interviews, acculturation level was assessed for each group, as was its influence on attention to oral health and self-evaluation of oral health status and time elapsed since the last dental appointment. Acculturation affected both groups, although to a greater degree in second-generation Japanese-Brazilians. However, it does not interfere in self-perception of oral health by this population. The main individual care with their oral health included brushing, flossing, and soaking dentures in antiseptic solutions. In self-assessed oral health, the main complaints related to wearing dentures, and the time elapsed since the last dental appointment was 1.4 years for the non-edentulous and 6.3 years for the edentulous.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brasil.
authors.forename: Daniel Afonso
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hiramatsu
authors.forename: Laércio Joel
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Nilce Emy
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Tomita
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001938:Brazil; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007564:Japan / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000523:psychology*; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D012649:Self Concept; D017678:Sex Distribution