The dental number influence on daily performance

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact caused by dental loss in the performance of daily activities of patients assisted at the clinics of the Dental College of the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE, acronym in Portuguese). An analytical transversal qualitative-quantitative study was accomplished, in a sample constituted of 100 patients. The Oral Impact on Daily Performance (OIDP) was adopted, composed of two forms that served to evaluate the data concerning the biopsychosocial dimension investigated (impact of buccal health and dental loss in daily activities). It was observed that 76% of the interviewed patients reported that the act of chewing and savouring food was the daily activity that suffered the biggest impact followed by the activity of speaking and pronouncing words clearly and without difficulty, with 46%. The activity that suffered the least impact, according to the participants, was the performance of physical activities (4%). There was significant association between the income and the (OIDP), in those patients with higher income observing less impact in their buccal health (p = 0,049). Furthermore, the number of teeth related to the DPOI index showed that patients with a higher number of teeth reported less impact in their health (p = 0,048). Regarding the education level, a statistically significant value was not observed (p = 0,097). It was concluded that the Odontological Impact Index showed a tendency to a significant relation between income and the number of teeth. Furthermore, that the number of teeth influenced in the self-perception of odontological impact in the daily life. Key words: Buccal health. Quality of life. Psychosocial impact.