Perfil socioeconômico, percepção de saúde e expectativas em reabilitação protética dos pacientes nos estágios da Policlínica Odontológica da UEA

Abstract

Humanized prosthetic rehabilitation must consider the patient's profile, pain, complaints, perception of health, and expectations. In the academic context, mastering this information develops sensitivity and understanding essential to the training of dental surgeons, highlighting the importance of communication and empathy with the patient. This study aims to evaluate the socioeconomic profile, perception of health, and expectations of prosthetic treatment in patients undergoing treatment with dental prostheses (total, removable, and fixed). To this end, all adult patients undergoing prosthetic rehabilitation treatment at the UEA Dentistry course were invited to participate in the study, totaling 40 patients in the period between 2023/2 and 2025/1. Three interviews were conducted to collect data: the first during the anamnesis, the second at the time of installation, and the third 3 to 6 months after the end of treatment. All evaluations were performed through clinical and physical examination of prosthetic conditions and a semi-structured, standardized interview. The collected data were tabulated and underwent descriptive statistical analysis. Five immediate total prostheses, six fixed partial prostheses (crowns), and 32 removable partial prostheses were installed in the patients. The majority of patients were female (65%) with a mean age of 53 years (+/- 9.9 years) and high educational attainment. Among the systemic conditions reported, emotional disorders and cardiovascular diseases stood out. The history of prosthesis use showed wide variation, ranging from first-time users to individuals with long prior experience. The main reasons reported for rehabilitation were related to aesthetics and masticatory function. In general, high initial satisfaction with the prostheses was observed, with a slight reduction in some cases during follow-up. It was concluded that the patients were predominantly female, with a high average age. Despite a higher educational level, prosthetic treatment is still perceived as economically burdensome, with predominant expectations of aesthetic and functional improvements accompanied by a positive self-perception of health and oral hygiene.