Search

Objective: to assess the characteristics associated withtemporomandibular disorders (TMD) and their impacton oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of institutionalizedelderly people. Subjects and method: itwas a cross-sectional study performed in 30 private institutionsfor the elderly. The data collected included theTMD questionnaire and clinical evaluation assessed bythe Research Diagnostic Criteria/TemporomandibularDisorders (RDC/TMD), as well as the OHIP-49 questionnairefor OHRQoL. Results: twenty-four institutionsaccepted to participate in the study (n = 375 with 133fit for answering both questionnaires). Considering thecharacteristics, tinnitus was the most frequent symptomreported, while 98.5% of the research participants didnot present myofascial pain. Disc displacement wasobserved in 26.3%, while 93% of individuals did notpresent chronic pain. Severe depression was found in23.3% of the elderly with 24.1% presenting moderatelevels of non-specific physical symptoms, includingpain. Poisson regression analysis showed that the characteristicsreported were associated with a negativeimpact on OHRQoL. Conclusion: the domain-specificanalysis showed that all domains were affected negativelyby TMD characteristics and higher levels of depressionare associated with a negative impact on OHRQoL. Keywords: Elderly people. Oral health-related qualityof life. Temporomandibular disorders. Facial pain. Depression.

Statement of problem Clinical evidence on the best chemical protocol for the disinfection and removal of biofilm from complete dentures is lacking. Purpose The purpose of this crossover randomized clinical trial was to assess the effectiveness of various chemical hygiene clinical protocols in reducing the microbial viability of biofilm formed on complete dentures. Material and methods In this triple-blind (participants, dentist, and outcome evaluator) study, complete denture wearers without candidiasis were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=40) according to the chemical hygiene protocol: water (placebo), 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution, 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate solution, and 5% sodium bicarbonate solution. The biofilm formed on the palate intaglio and denture teeth was collected and assessed in each experimental phase for quantitative microbial viability at the seventh and 14th day after using the chemical protocol. Results Two participants were lost. Data were analyzed by MANOVA and Tukey HSD tests. Soaking dentures was not effective in decreasing Candida albicans, C. non-albicans, and lactobacillus counts. The use of sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine decreased total microorganisms and Streptococcus mutans counts for both palate and teeth compared with water and sodium bicarbonate. The intaglio of the dentures always presented higher microbial counts than did the denture teeth. Conclusions The use of sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine and mechanical cleansing with a toothbrush decreased microbial viability in healthy complete denture wearers.