Conditions of oral health in elderly of rural areas

Abstract

Health is the ability of the individual, independent of his or her age to continue to function in their physical and social environment, contributing to and interacting with society2 and oral health is an essential component of the general health and well-being of the individual influencing the productivity and quality of life and most of the times is not of its importance recognized, mainly by elderly people, where the loss of teeth is accepted as a natural phenomenon that accompanies aging.3 However, it is known that diseases developed in the oral cavity, such as caries or periodontal diseases, may be frequently associated with some systemic diseases such as arteriosclerosis, diabetes and heart diseases.4