Modification of the oral health state of patients suffering from VHI/AIDS in a health area

Abstract

Background: the poor oral health state affects patients’ health in general; this situation has greater negative influences in patients suffering from VHI/AIDS, besides having an effect on the evolution of their illness.

Objective: to modify the oral health state in patients suffering from VHI/AIDS belonging to "Romárico Oro" teaching polyclinic, by means of an intervention study carried out during two years.

Methods: an intervention study was carried out from January, 2013 to January, 2015 in a sample of 11 patients diagnosed with VHI/AIDS to modify their oral health state. The patients were examined to detect risk factors associated to oral diseases and to classify them epidemiologically. They were given healing attention, follow-up assessment of their oral health state after two years of having initiated the intervention.

Results: patients were between 19 and 59 years of age; there was a slight prevalence of males, with 63,3 %. Before the intervention all the patients showed bacterial plaque; toward the end, it persisted in only one patient. Caries and tartar were the associated risk factors that showed the highest incidence, with 90,9 % in both cases; after the intervention they were eliminated in all the patients. Peri-odontopathies were present in 63,3 % of the cases and it was possible to reduce them to 9,1 %. Smoking and occlusal dysfunction were those less modified.

Conclusions: it was possible to modify the oral health state in all the patients who were object of intervention, improving the oral health state of most of them, even the healthy ones at risk.