PRESENCIA DE ESTOMATITIS SUBPROTÉSICA EN PACIENTES PORTADORES DE PRÓTESIS TOTALES EN LA POBLACIÓN DE LOS NEVADOS, ESTADO MÉRIDA, VENEZUELA

Abstract

Absence of comprehensive dental care, misinformation and lack of preventive measures are aggravating factors in the general health condition of patients living in rural populations. The general aim of the present research was to assess the oral status of patients from Los Nevados, a rural community located in the Sierra Nevada of Merida Park State, those patients wore dentures and have been diagnosed with denture stomatitis. It was a descriptive, cross-sectional study in which data collection techniques were structured interview and observation. The sample included 22 patients. Results showed the presence of oral lesions associated with use of dentures and related to denture stomatitis description; it was also noticed the presence of the two stages described in the literature for the disease classification and the possible relationship of factors such as prosthesis hygiene, usage time, usage habits and masticatory efficiency in the development of the disease.