Use and necessity of dental prosthesis in a public health system in the city of Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the use and need of dental prosthesis of the population that seeks care in a Municipal Health Center of Passo Fundo / RS, relating these data to socioeconomic factors and self-perception of oral health. Method: clinical examinations were carried out to verify the use and the necessity of dental prostheses, through the evaluation of edentulous spaces in both dental arches, and the application of a questionnaire, through an interview, which collected socioeconomic data and Self-perception of oral health, according to the guidelines of SB Brasil Project 2003. Data were evaluated through descriptive statistics and Chi-square test of associations. Results: it was possible to verify that a large part of the studied population would need prosthetic rehabilitation in both dental arches, however, it did not use maxillary or mandibular dental prostheses. The age of the patients, their family income and the pain in the region of teeth and gums were associated with the use of prosthesis, while age, schooling, housing and family income showed an association with the need. Conclusion: edentulism was high in the studied population and strongly related to age and family income. However, the relationship with socioeconomic conditions and self-perception of oral health was not consistent.