Psychosocial well-being of Partially and Completely Edentulous Elderly Patients of Barangay San Juan, Apalit, Pampanga, Philippines

Abstract

Healthy smile may affect person’s confidence and self-image. Senior dental problem can be common, from tooth decay to periodontal diseases, since oral health directly impacts the health of the rest of the body and mind, these issues need to be taken seriously. Elderly individual may start limiting the kinds of food they eat, prone to experience low self-esteem and other psychological problems, they may find it difficult to socialize to other people, changes of mood because of pain they experience in oral cavity and difficulty in communication due to changes in oral motor function such as phonation and deglutition. Descriptive type of research, 273 individuals were selected through convenience and purposive sampling. The respondents were all partially and completely edentulous individuals, aged sixty and above, residing at Barangay San Juan, Apalit, Pampanga, Philippines. Researcher made questionnaire, validated by licensed dentists, psychologists, and guidance counselor, were utilized as the research instrument to determine the respondent’s psychosocial well-being and quality of life. Based on data gathered, dental caries is the most common cause of the respondents’ tooth loss. Result showed that the effects of toothloss on health, behavioral, and socio-economic factors of the respondents are equal, and social aspect is greatly affected. Psychosocial well-being of the respondents is in between strongly affected and not affected at all, an indication that quality of life is affected by the effects of edentulism. Socialization and health aspect are the most commonly affected by edentulism. Feelings were encountered and coped differently by individual. Awareness and proper education on oral health practices can help prevent tooth decay and tooth loss that may improve the psychosocial well-being and overall quality of life of an individual, especially to future generations.