ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the influence of the aging process and the effects of dental care received by analyzing the impact of these issues in oral health and the lives of elderly.
METHODS:
This is a qualitative study of a phenomenological framework, with an intentionally set sample. We selected five elders to interview, in which we used a semistructured questionnaire. We also used a diary to collect data and expressions of the subjects. The variables considered were: the meaning of aging for older people, the perception of the aging mouth, past experience of dental care and the influence of these aspects on quality of life. Data was processed was by the analysis and categorization of content.
RESULTS:
The search resulted in the establishment of categories of "aging", considering the usefulness of the elderly, acceptance, lifestyle, physical limitations and changes in the mouth, the category of "psychosocial aspect of the mouth in old age with chewing, which represents the movement carried out by mouth arrest, grinds, and swallows, eroticism and language, and the category "dental care", subdivided into crippling assistance, need for treatment and preventive care.
CONCLUSIONS:
The difficulty in chewing and loss of ability to taste foods are problems raised by the elderly. Aesthetics dissatisfaction is directly linked to the absence of teeth and is essential to trigger negative feelings of self-esteem among individuals, taking effect on social relations.
Key words:
Aging; Oral Health; Dental Care for Aged; Qualitative Research; Qualitative Analysis; Self concept; Qualitative Analysis; Dental Care.