Prosthetic status and stomatological rehabilitation treatment needs in older adults

Saavedra Huamán Y.D.L.Á.; Coronado Tamariz D.Á.; Guillén Galarza M.F.; Jiménez Prado C.A.; Arbildo Vega H.I.; Vargas Cornejo H.M. · Revista Cubana de Medicina Militar (2026)

Resumen

Introduction: Tooth loss in older adults is an oral health problem that affects basic functions and impacts quality of life, especially in environments with limited access to dental services. Objectives: To determine the prosthetic status and the needs for stomatological rehabilitation treatment in older adults treated at a health facility in Piura. Methods: An observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted. The population consisted of 269 adults aged 60 years and older who attended the I-3 La Arena Health Center, Piura, during 2023. The sample included 159 participants selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling. The variables assessed were dental prosthetic status and need for prosthetic treatment, as well as age, sex, and educational level. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s chi-square test were applied, with a significance level of 0.05. Results: A total of 97.5% of participants had no prosthesis in the maxillary arch and 99.4% in the mandibular arch. The need for complete dentures was high, reaching 88.1% in the maxillary arch and 62.9% in the mandibular arch. A significant association was found between age and prosthetic need (p = 0.024 and p = 0.000), between sex and prosthetic need in the lower arch (p = 0.026), and between educational level and prosthetic need in the upper arch (p = 0.000). Conclusions: Most older adults lacked prosthetic rehabilitation and showed a high need for treatment, highlighting the urgency of strengthening public programs to improve access to prosthetic care, especially among individuals with lower educational levels.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de Trujillo; Universidad de San Martín de Porres; Universidad César Vallejo