The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of socio-demographic variables and oral health conditions in the quality of life of non-institutionalized people aged 50 or above, living in Bauru, São Paulo State. Clinical oral examinations were conducted on a sample of 224 people including dental caries, periodontal disease and usage or need of dental prosthesis according to WHO suggestions for community dental health surveys. They were also asked to answer a questionnaire comprised of 49 questions about the impact of their oral status on the activities of daily living (OHIP). Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were computed with individual scores of each domain as dependent variables. The results were: 60% were retired people, 42% exercise no social activity and 65.5% earned less than three minimum wages. Dentate people had a mean of 15.3 missing teeth, 117 people (53% of the sample) had full dentures. It could be concluded that regression analysis showed no socio-demographic variable but age having a significant impact on quality of life; as people get older oral disorders seems to produce lower impact on quality of life. As it concerns to oral clinical data only periodontal disease showed impact on quality of life.
Quality of life; Oral health; Aged people; Elderly
