Estado de salud oral en pacientes adultos en relación con su nivel de depresión

Abstract

Objective. To determine the oral health status of patients attended at the Dental clinic of the Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Pasto branch in relation to their depression level. Methods. We included 88 adult patients attended during 2014, who were voluntarily applied a survey on sociodemographic aspects, oral hygiene and the Beck test. Univariate and bivariate analysis were perfomed, calculating the OR and a 95% CI to determine the prevalence of depression in the population and its relationship with oral alterations. Results. 17% of the patients presented depression (from mild to extreme), all of them with poor oral hygiene, although there was no a statistically significant relationship between these variables (OR=0,26 IC95%[0,009-7,3]). Patients with depression had a high prevalence of non-cavitational secondary caries. Women were the most affected. Conclusions. It is evident that poor oral hygiene prevails at all levels of the mental health scale of patients treated in the Dental Clinic of the Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Pasto. The consultation with professionals of psychology is an aspect to consider in the comprehensive provision of oral health services to improve their oral health and quality of life.