Oral mucosal health and disease in institutionalized elderly in Brazil

During the last decade, many studies in Europe and North America have evaluated oral conditions and dental needs in the elderly. Similar information does not exist in Brazil. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of oral health and disease in elderly persons living in an institution in the city of Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Of 350 elderly persons, 134 males and 136 females were interviewed and clinically examined. Less than one half had healthy mouths. 58.9% of the examined individuals showed one or more lesions in the oral mucosa, the most frequent being denture-induced stomatitis (20.0%). Fibrous hyperplasias (11.8%) and angular cheilitis (9.3%) were fairly common. Gender, use and degree of hygiene of the denture were factors statistically significantly contributing to prevalence of denture stomatitis. Precancerous lesions such as leukoplakia (3.0%), actinic cheilitis (2.6%) were uncommon but three cases of squamous carcinoma (1.1%) were revealed. This study emphasizes the need for regular oral examinations of the elderly by personnel trained in oral diagnosis.