title: [Satisfaction with life, dental experience and self-perception of oral health among the elderly].
abstract: The scope of this article is to analyze the relationship between satisfaction with quality of life, self-perception of oral health and experience with dental surgeons. The study is cross-sectional epidemiological in structure with a sample of 326 elderly individuals over 60 years of age living in a city in the north of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The instrument for data collection was a self-administered questionnaire with queries relating to self-perception in oral health (OHIP - Oral Health Impact Profile), Quality of Life Satisfaction scale and sociodemographic issues. The findings showed that the elderly with higher levels of quality of life satisfaction manifested an enhanced perception of their own oral health as well as a better perceived image of dental surgeons and less anxiety about their experiences with the dentist. It was proven that both the self-perception that the elderly have about oral health as well as their experience with dentists is associated with the quality of life satisfaction of the elderly. The results have important implications for decision-makers and formulators of public policy.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Odontologia, Faculdade Meridional, Passo Fundo, RS, Brasil, lilianrigo@via-rs.net.
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rigo
authors.affiliation: Escola de Administração, Faculdade Meridional.
authors.forename: Kenny
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.affiliation: Escola de Administração, Faculdade Meridional.
authors.forename: Jandir
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pauli
authors.affiliation: Escola de Odontologia, Faculdade Meridional, Passo Fundo, RS, Brasil, lilianrigo@via-rs.net.
authors.forename: Graziela Oro
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Cericato
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Sergipe.
authors.forename: Luiz Renato
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Paranhos
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Passo Fundo.
authors.forename: Raissa Rigo
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Garbin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires