Oral lesions associated with the use and care of dentures in the elderly

Introduction: Oral lesions are more common in older individuals with old or damaged dentures. Objective: To characterize oral lesions associated with the use and care of dentures in older adults. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on patients from the "Antonio Briones Montoto" Provincial Teaching Stomatological Clinic, Pinar del Río, during the period 2019-2021. Universe: 3886 patients aged 60 or over, rehabilitated with prostheses. Sample (non-probabilistic intentional): 250 elderly individuals with oral paraprosthetic lesions. Data were processed using absolute and relative frequencies and non-parametric Chi-square tests. Results: Oral lesions associated with denture use remain a highly prevalent health problem in the elderly, with the main causes being the absence of preventive measures, inadequate oral hygiene, and lack of knowledge about denture use and care. Conclusions: The study population was characterized by the presence of subprosthetic stomatitis and poor oral hygiene, caused by total acrylic prosthetic appliances; most of which were in poor condition and had been used for more than 5 years. The predominance of nighttime use of the prosthetic appliance conditioned the presence of the detected oral lesions.