Impact of tooth loss on the quality of life of elderly peopleIntroduction: There is scientific evidence that shows health contributes to the quality of life. These measurements have not been well guided towards the free response of oral health in people's lives. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of tooth loss on the quality of life of elderly people. Material and methods: Qualitative investigation with descriptive features -which used a random sample out of the total edentulous elderly people, who lived in an institution in Fortaleza, Brazil -was carried out. From 250 residents screened, 72 completely edentulous elderly, with ages from 60 to 79 years were selected. A semi-structured questionnaire was used with closed and opened questions in which the last one was used for the free flow of the interviewee's responses. The content was analysed and codified according to Bardin. Results: In total, 84.7% had attended the dentist to have exodontia. Of them, 81.9% reported difficulties after losing their teeth. Physical dimensions, characterised by the difficulties in eating and social dimensions, because of interference in communication with other people were obtained. Conclusion: Tooth loss causes disorder in the individual's quality of life, mainly when it affects their wellbeing and appearance.

Raça e o uso dos serviços de saúde bucal por idososRace and the use of dental health services by the elderly Resumo Analisamos se a raça pode ser considerada um fator limitante na utilização dos serviços odontológicos por idosos. O presente estudo é de caráter analítico, com a utilização de dados secundários coletados pela Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde Bucal em 2003. Foram incluídos os examinados que se declararam como brancos, pardos ou pretos, na faixa etária de 65 a 74 anos. O número amostral foi composto por 5.108 idosos sendo 2.575 brancos e 2.533 negros. Dos brancos 3,8% afirmaram nunca terem ido ao dentista enquanto que para os negros esse valor é de 7,8%. Mesmo após o ajuste com interceptação de necessidade de prótese e dor, a chance do idoso negro não ter utilizado o serviço odontológico pelo menos uma vez na vida é 0.62 OR menor que para um idoso branco. Dos que utilizaram os serviços, 21,2% dos idosos brancos visitaram o dentista no último ano, enquanto para os negros o valor foi de 14,2%, no modelo ajustado interceptado pela necessidade de prótese e dor o OR foi de 0.60. Todas as relações foram estatisticamente significantes (p < 0,001). A raça é um fator limitante na utilização dos serviços odontológicos por idosos e, mesmo após ajustes, os idosos negros permanecem com maior dificuldade na utilização dos serviços de saúde bucal. Palavras-Chave Idoso, Negros, Odontologia geriátrica, Serviços de saúde bucal e acesso aos serviços de saúde Abstract We analyze if race can be considered a limiting factor in the use of dental services by the elderly. This study is of an analytical nature, with the use of secondary data collected by the National Survey of Oral Health in 2003. Those examined who declared themselves as being white, brown or black in the 65 to 74-year-old age bracket were included. The sample was composed of 5,108 elderly people: 2,575 whites and 2,533 blacks. Of the whites, 3.8% stated that they had never been to the dentist, while this figure was 7.8% for the blacks. Even after the adjustment for interception for prosthetics and dental pain, the chance of elderly blacks not having used dental services at least once in their life is 0.62 OR less than for elderly whites. Of those who used the services, 21.2% of the elderly whites visited the dentist in the last year, while for elderly blacks the figure was 14.2%, in the adjusted model for interception for prosthetics and dental pain the OR was 0.60. All the relations were statistically significant (p<0,001). Race is a limiting factor in the use of dental services by the elderly and even after the adjustments the elderly blacks continue to manifest greater resistance to the use of oral health services.

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