Geriatric Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in the Retired Elderly Population

Aims: The present study aimed to determine the oral health-related quality of life in the retired elderly population. Material Methods: A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 196 elderly members of retirement centers using convenient sampling in Rasht city, Iran. Data collection included oral examinations and structured interviews. The geriatric oral health assessment index was used to measure oral health-related quality of life. Moreover, information on sociodemographic characteristics, use of dental services, and subjective health measures were collected. The independent t-test and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis in SPSS 21. Findings: The mean GOHAI score was 47.5±6.3 (range 26-59). The mean psychosocial domain score was significantly lower than others (p 0.001). Participants with complete dentures and those with more than 20 teeth showed the highest, and those with partial dentures had the lowest quality of life. Xerostomia was the most prevalent oral condition (29.1%). Conclusion: The findings indicated the retired elderly who were members of the retirement center had a moderate level of oral health-related quality of life. The obtained data on oral health-related quality of life in the elderly can help the decision-makers plan oral health programs for the elderly.