title: Self-perceived oral health and associated factors among the elderly in Campinas, Southeastern Brazil, 2008-2009.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe self-perceived oral health among elderly people and assess associated sociodemographic and clinical factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out with 876 participants forming a representative sample of elderly people (65 years of age or over) in Campinas, Southeastern Brazil, in 2008-2009. Dental examinations were conducted in accordance with criteria standardized by the World Health Organization for epidemiological surveys on oral health. Self-perceived oral health was evaluated using the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Individuals were classified according to sociodemographic characteristics, dental factors and prevalence of biological frailty. Associations were assessed using Poisson regression analysis, taking into consideration sample weights and the complex structure of the cluster sampling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The subjects' mean age was 72.8 years; 70.1% were women. The proportion of the individuals with more than 20 teeth present was 17.2%; 38.2% were using full dentures in both arches; 8.5% needed dental prostheses in at least one arch. On average, the GOHAI was high: 33.9 (maximum possible: 36.0). Retaining 20 teeth or more, using full dentures in both arches, not needing such treatment, not presenting any oral mucosa abnormalities and not presenting biological frailty were factors significantly associated with better self-perceived oral health (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assessment of self-perceived oral health made it possible to identify the main factors associated with this outcome. This tool may contribute towards planning dental services and guide health promotion strategies for improving the quality of life of individuals within this age group.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Odontologia Social, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. diasdeb@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Débora Dias da
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Roberta Barros de
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Held
authors.forename: Stella Vidal de Souza
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Maria da Luz Rosário de
authors.initials: Mda L
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Anita Liberalesso
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: José Leopoldo Ferreira
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Antunes
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003753:Dental Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003778:Dentures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology