Edentulism and associated variables among institutionalized elders

Abstract

The population aging is a worldwide phenomenon. It is estimated that the number of people aged 60 or more will reach two billion people or 22% of the global population by 2050,1 which may indicate that the number of institutionalized elders will also increase. Usually, institutionalized patients have high degree of dependency that can contribute to the poor oral health and unfavorable local physiological conditions.2 In this respect, attention to these unfavorable oral conditions should be priority for the institution staff.3