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Teeth Retention, Prosthetic Status and Need among a Group of Elderly in Nigeria

Arigbede Abiodun Olabisi*,Chukuwuma EmmanueI Ifeanyi

Background: Missing teeth without prosthetic replacement had been linked to reduced quality of life in elderly population. Data on teeth retention, prosthetic status and needs of elderly population is rare in our environment.
Aim: This study was designed to assess teeth retention, prosthetic status and needs among elderly patients attending our dental centre.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among elderly patients, 65 years and above attending Dental Centre of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital using structured questionnaire and clinical examination. The clinical examination was conducted using WHO criteria. The questionnaire items include socio-demographic variables, dental clinic visit behavior and history of pain, chewing difficulty, denture wearing, systemic illness and medication. Teeth present and those indicated for extractions were charted. The prosthetic status and needs were also recorded. Chi Square was used to determine the relationship between two variables.
Results: There were 104 respondents out of which 53 (51.0%) were males. The mean age was 71.5years (± 6.1). About half (49.0%) had not seen a dentist within the last five years. About 66% complained of dental pain and 67.6% had one systemic illness or the other. Majority of the patients (90.1%) had 20 or more teeth in their mouth and 2 (1.9%) had shortened dental arch. One respondent (1.0%) had a 1-unit Bridge while 13.5% wear removable partial denture. Most of the respondents (75.0%) needed prosthetic replacement.
Conclusion: There is a high prosthetic need and poor prosthetic status among the respondents.