Alterações da mucosa bucal em idosos usuários e não usuários de prótese total removível em duas comunidades rurais de Minas Gerais

Abstract

With ethical approval from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, (Comitê de Ética UFMG), the prevalence of buccal mucosa lesions was related to the use of removable full dentures among 344 non-institutionalized patients living in a semi-rural area who were 60 years of age or older. The sample included 146 elderly who used complete dentures and 198 who did not, independent of their oral status. The examinations were undertaken at health centres or at home, in two rural municipalities of Minas Gerais, Brazil (Morro do Ferro and Monsenhor João Alexandre). Cross infection protocol was followed and all the participants were either referred or given advice according to the resulting diagnosis. In addition to the presence of removable full dentures data was collected concerning their integrity, cleanliness and length of time since first prescribed. The lesion most commonly related to the use of a prosthesis was candida erythematosis (64.1%), followed by fibrous hyperplasia (19.2%) and angular cheilitis (12.1%). It was observed that 50% of individuals using complete dentures had used them for a period between 21 and 40 years. Of the 146 denture users, 76 were found to be damaged, principally because of missing, broken and worn teeth. The hygienic conditions of the dentures were found to be relevant since 120 individuals presented with dentures which were insufficiently clean. The majority through insufficient knowledge of the techniques or of the need for hygiene. These results show that those who use full dentures should periodically visit the dentist to evaluate the integrity of the prosthesis and for an examination of the buccal mucosa as well as oral hygiene instruction.