Description of oral health in older adults at the Gerontological Center "Los Rosales" in Ecuador

Abstract

Oral health is fundamental in the quality of life of human beings and older adults tend to neglect it. The objective of the study was to describe oral health in older adults of the Gerontological Center "Los Rosales" in Ecuador. It was a descriptive, observational, prospective, descriptive and cross-sectional research. Surveys were conducted with 40 older adults. This study revealed crucial perceptions about the understandings and behaviors related to oral health among older adults in the Gerontology Center of "Los Rosales" sector. The results indicate unanimity in the importance attributed to oral health, with 100% of the participants recognizing its impact on quality of life. However, there is a notable discrepancy between this assessment and effective dental care practices: a low percentage of annual dental visits, together with a tendency towards self-medication and the use of home remedies for discomfort. In addition, the majority of respondents have removable prostheses and highlight nutrition as a crucial factor in dental care, but there are gaps in knowledge and application of proper denture cleaning practices. It is concluded that there is a significant gap between the perception of the importance of oral health and concrete actions for its care and prevention in the older adult population. The practices adopted do not always reflect knowledge of the subject, which underscores the need for educational interventions and access to dental services