[Factors associated to self perceived need of dental care among Brazilian elderly].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze factors associated with the self-perceived need for dental treatment among elderly people.


METHODS
A total of 5,326 individuals who were included in a sample of Brazilian elderly people aged 65-74 years in a home survey on oral health conducted by the Brazilian Ministry of Health in 2002/2003 were investigated. The analysis was based on the model of Gift, Atchison & Drury, and Poisson regression for analysis of surveys with complex samples was used.


RESULTS
Out of the whole sample, 2,928 (55%) of the elderly people said they needed dental treatment. This need was perceived less frequently among those aged 70 years or over (PR=0.94; 95% CI: 0.89;0.99), those who had not received information on how to avoid oral problems (PR=0.89; 95% CI: 0.83;0.95) and those who were edentate (PR=0.68; 95% CI: 0.62;0.74). The perceived need was greater among those who self;rated their oral health as regular (PR=1.31; 95% CI: 1.21;1.41) or poor/very poor (PR=1.29; 95% CI: 1.19;1.41), their appearance as regular (PR=1.23; 95% CI: 1.15;1.32) or poor/very poor (PR=1.28; 95% CI: 1.18;1.39) and their chewing as regular (PR=1.08; 95% CI: 1.01;1.15) or poor/very poor (PR=1.13; 95% CI: 1.05;1.21). It was also greater among those who reported pain in their teeth or gums over the six months prior to the survey (PR=1.27; 95% CI: 1.18;1.36) and among those who needed a prosthesis in one arch (PR=1.29; 95% CI: 1.19;1.39) or both (PR=1.27; 95% CI: 1.16;1.40).


CONCLUSIONS
Information, oral health conditions and subjective questions were associated with self-perceived need for dental treatment. The results reinforce the need to capacitate individuals to carry out oral self-examination and identify non-painful signs and symptoms of mucosal lesions, caries and periodontal disease at an early stage.
Martins
Andréa Maria Eleutério de Barros Lima
AM
Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Avenida Cula Mangabeira 210, Montes Claros, MG, Brazil. andreamartins@viamoc.com.br
Barreto
Sandhi Maria
SM
Pordeus
Isabela Almeida
IA
D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D016321:Dental Care for Aged; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires