This study assessed the oral health of the institutionalized elderly in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. A sample of 335 individuals over 60 years of age was randomly selected. Data were collected through interviews, review of medical records, and clinical examination by a single researcher. Oral health was evaluated in terms of oral hygiene, caries, and periodontal disease. Bacterial plaque was present on 76% of the dental surfaces, and 57% of the elderly using upper dentures presented plaque on at least one of its surfaces. DMF-T index was 30.8, with the missing component representing 94.2%. Missing sextant was the worst periodontal finding in 78.2% of the elderly. Among the valid sextants, there was a higher prevalence of 4 to 5mm periodontal pocket and attachment loss from 4 to 5mm (47%). According to the findings, institutionalized elderly suffer from precarious oral health, with deficient oral hygiene, high caries rate, tooth loss, and periodontal pocket.
Homes for the Aged; Oral Health; Health of the Elderly
