Self perception and oral health conditions of patients in treatment at Hucam/Ufes Rheumatology Center, Vitória – ES

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyze the oral health conditions and self-perception of patients in treatment at the Cassiano Antônio de Moraes University Hospital Rheumatology Center (Hucam/Ufes) of the Federal University of Espírito Santo (Vitória - ES - Brazil). The sample consisted of 80 patients, (18 male and 62 female), none of them were under any dental treatment. The DMFT index was used to evaluate dental caries experiences using World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. It was also applied a questionnaire to analyze self-perception of oral health. The rheumatoid arthritis was the predominant rheumatic disease (50%). The age group from 15 to 19 years had a DMFT index (16.50) almost 3 times higher than the regional average for the same age group (5.94). Despite the poor conditions of oral health, 58.75% of the subjects had a positive self perception. This demonstrates a weak association between self-perception and real conditions of oral health. Public educational initiatives are necessary to improve oral health self perception and self care by these individuals. For these reasons, it is important to include the dentist in the rheumatic patient treatment team.