Aging, Oral Health and Quality of Life

Abstract

The aging of populations is a global phenomenon that presents great challenges as humanity seeks to meet and promote the physical and mental wellbeing of the elderly (United Nations, 2002). As a population ages, a demographic and epidemiological transition occurs caused by the comparative increase of elderly individuals within the population. This is accompanied by a changing profile of disease as the incidence of chronic degenerative diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, rheumatism, depression and oral health problems increases, and the prevalence of infectious disease decreases. The oral health of the elderly is, in part, precarious, as the majority use or require some form of dental prostheses. The average number of teeth in the oral cavity is typically minimal and the incidence of root caries and periodontal disease is high. This trend often directly influences the quality of life of the elderly, causing psychological, physical and social detriment to the patient (Correa da Silva and Fernandes, 2001). This demographic of the population also commonly experience xerostomia, temporomandibular joint problems and a reduction in taste sensation. Often, these physiological changes inhibit the maintenance of a proper diet as patients seek to mitigate the challenges associated with an inability to chew (Cassolato and Turnbull 2003, DeBoever et al. 1999, DeMarchi et al. 2008, Moynihan et al. 2009, Thonsom et al. 2006). Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) and Community Periodontal Index for Treatment Needs (CPITN) are instruments used to perform oral assessments of patients in populations. Using the data collected from these indexes, the oral health of populations can be evaluated in an objective manner. However, the simple assessment of the mouth does not answer a clinical question that has been a more recent concern of health research: What is the effect of poor oral conditions on quality of life? Several rating systems have been proposed and subsequently used to answer this question, most prominently when considering those patients that are greater than 60 years of age. Certainly, the impact of health on quality of daily life is deeply conditioned by cultural, socioeconomic standards and the level of social interrelations.