Evaluation of procedures employed for the maintenance of removable dentures in elderly individuals.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the behaviour of the wearers of removable dentures in relation to cleaning and maintaining the prosthesis.


METHODS
Two hundred and thirty-one people were interviewed, most of whom were females, over 60 years of age and participants in the Center for Integrated Study and Support to the Elderly.


RESULTS
After analysing the responses, it was verified that most people brush their dentures three times a day using dentifrice and only go to the clinician when they have a complaint. They do not receive follow-up appointments for checkups, do not use immersion cleaners for their dentures and do not remove their dentures during the night.


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that the study sample did not receive proper orientation for the conservation of removable dentures, which may consequently reduce the useful life of dentures and cause social and functional problems.
Rua Silveira Martins 2520, CEP 97700-000, Centro, Santiago, RS, Brazil.
Diego Marques
DM
Barreiro
Patrícia Alves
PA
Scheid
Liliana Gressler
LG
May
Beatriz
B
Unfer
Katia Olmedo
KO
Braun
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003820:Denture Cleansers; D003824:Denture, Complete; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008437:Maxilla; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic
D003820:Denture Cleansers