Resumo

GONDIM, Cecília Gadelha et al. Oral health status in patients admitted to an emergency hospital. Arq. Odontol. [online]. 2012, vol.48, n.4, pp. 270-279. ISSN 1516-0939.

Aim: To evaluate the oral health status, the access conditions to dental services, and the selfperception of oral health, as well as to establish their relationship with the need for dental treatment in patients admitted to the Dr. José Frota Institute in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, in 2011. Materials and Methods: This study applied an exploratory crosssectional study, in which 301 patients were examined and hospitalized in two wards of a tertiary referral in trauma hospital, at both regional and state levels. The exploratory variables included the socioeconomic assessment, access, and self-perception of oral health and Index of Dental Treatment Need (IDTN). Data collection was performed by a single examiner; the data were processed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) version 17.0. The comparison between variables was performed using the Student T test, with a significance level of 5%. Results: Most patients were men, with an average age of 39.38 years, with an elementary level education, with a minimum hospitalization period of 2 days and a maximum of 4.83 months (SD ± 1.311). When asked about the primary means of dental care, the public health service was reported as the primary means of access and the main reason for the request of dental care was the presence of caries cavities. According to IDNT, most patients were classified in profiles 3 and 4 (76.4%) presenting dental calculus, small cavity caries, and recommendation of extraction. The association between the variables of "perception of need for dental treatment" and "classification of oral health" was statistically significant (p <0.001) as was the association betwee the "profile" and " selfperception of oral health" (p <0.001). Conclusion: From this analysis it can be concluded that the oral health status of these patients is poor, with the incontestable need for oral health care within the hospitalized population.

Palavras-chave : Oral health.; Dental staff, hospital.; Emergency service, hospital.; Oral hygiene.; Health education.; Dental care..