1 Volume 23 2024 e241678 Original Article Braz J Oral Sci. 2024;23:e241678http://dx.doi.org/10.20396/bjos.v23i00.8671678 1 School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. 2 Graduate Program of Dentistry and Graduate Program of Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. 3 Graduate Program of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. 4 School of Nutrition, Graduate Program of Nutrition and Food and Graduate Program of Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. 5 Graduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Corresponding author: Mariana Gonzalez Cademartori marianacademartori@gmail.com 457, Gonçalves Chaves street. Pelotas, Brazil +55 53 981351584 Editor: Altair A. Del Bel Cury Received: Dec 09, 2022 Accepted: May 27, 2023 Self-perception of need to replace dentures and oral health-related quality of life: cross-sectional study nested in a Cohort in Southern Brazil Stéffani Serpa1 , Sarah Arangurem Karam2 , Helena Silveira Schuch3 , Renata Teixeira Bielemann4 , Flávio Fernando Demarco5 , Mariana Gonzalez Cademartori5* Aim: With the significant increase in life expectancy over the last decades, it is important to understand how oral health can impact the oral health-related quality of life of older adults. This study aimed to investigate the association between need to replace dentures and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among older adults belonging to a Cohort in southern Brazil. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with data from the 2019 Pelotas Elderly Cohort. The OHRQoL was assessed using the GOHAI. Need to replace dentures was self-report using a question dichotomized into yes/no. In the statistical analysis, unadjusted and adjusted models estimate from linear regression models were calculated. The significance level adopted was 5%. Results: A total of 493 older adults were included. On the GOHAI questionnaire, the mean score was 32.74 (SD±0.16). Individuals considering need of prosthesis replacement were 47.89%. Report of need to replace dentures was associated to lowest mean on the GOHAI score (β -1.14; 95%CI - 1.80; -0.478, and on the physical (β -0.56; 95%CI - 0.94 -0.17) and psychosocial (β -0.48; 95%CI - 0.74; -0.22) dimensions. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the importance of also considering subjective measures of oral health in the dental care of older adults, since reporting the need for denture replacement, regardless of the reason, was associated with a worse oral health-related quality of life, including physical and psychosocial aspects. Keywords: Dentures. Quality of life. Oral health. Cross-sectional studies. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9940-5790 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3921-0182 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9932-9698 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0202-3735 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2276-491X https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2433-8298 2 Serpa et al. Braz J Oral Sci. 2024;23:e241678 Introduction As a consequence of income and life expectations increase, global older adults’ pop- ulation has increased in recent decades. Some factors like a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and grains, regular physical activity, social interaction, rising use of assistive technology and improvement in healthcare that contribute to the prevention of dis- abilities have reduced the risk of diseases and are associated with longevity1. Severe or complete tooth loss negatively impact essential daily functions, compromising the abilities of eating, speaking and social interaction, producing profound impacts in the individuals´ quality of life, and increasing the risk of adverse health outcomes2. Edentulism remains a significant public health worldwide, especially among the aging population. Although there is a decline in its prevalence over the last decade, it still affects about 2% of the world population3. Edentulism has a hazardous effect on the Oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) impairing the functional capacity, the phys- ical, psychological and social ability4. Conventional total dentures are currently the most used treatment option for the rehabilitation of edentulous individuals because it is an economical and esthetically acceptable treatment5. Studies have demonstrated the influence of complete dentures therapy on the OHRQoL of older populations6,7. New dentures can provide significant improvements to functional aspects, such as ability to chew and speaking, comfort and retention8,9, while wearing poor-fitting dentures may lead to discomfort and chewing difficulties9. Furthermore, rehabilitation with complete dentures is associated with improvements in the aesthetic appearance, which is fundamental to individual’s wellbeing. New and well-fitting den- tures increase the individual’s self-confidence and improve their quality of life8-11. Although randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that the use of dentures improves oral health-related quality of life among older adults12-14, studies with a cohort sample of elderly people that investigate self-perception about the need to change prostheses relating to quality of life are scarce in the scientific literature. Subjective health conditions are important and significantly impact individuals´ life. This study investigated the association between need to replace dentures and oral health-related quality of life among older adults belonging to cross-sectional study nested in a cohort in southern Brazil. Methods Study setting and sampling The “COMO VAI?” (“HOW ARE YOU?”) study (Consórcio de Mestrado Orientado para a Valorização da Atenção ao Idoso) (Masters Consortium for Valuation of Older Care) is a cohort study that has been conducted in Pelotas, a city located in Southern Brazil with about 340 000 inhabitants15. Eligibility criteria included non-institutionalized indi- viduals older than 60 years, living in the urban area of the Pelotas city. Three follows-up were conducted: a) Baseline in 2014 year; b) First follow-up in 2016; c) Second follow-up in 2019 year15. For the baseline study, a representative sample was 3 Serpa et al. Braz J Oral Sci. 2024;23:e241678 obtained from two sampling stages. Initially, household conglomerates were selected through data from the 2010 Demographic Census, from which 469 census sectors were considered ordered according to the average income of the head of the family. This strat- egy ensured the inclusion of several neighborhoods in the city and with different eco- nomic situations. Afterwards 31 households would be randomly selected in each sector, considering that at least 12 older adults would be identified per tract. Of the 1,844 eligible participants, 393 (21.3%) were losses and refusals. At the end, 1,451 older adults partici- pated of the baseline study. Data collection included face-to-face interview, anthropomet- ric measurements, and physical performance exams in participants’ homes. In 2016, the first follow-up was via telephone interview with the aim of locating the elderly participants at the baseline in 2014 and monitoring the occurrence of risk fac- tors, signs and symptoms of diseases of public health interest. In this stage, 1,161 elderly people participated, in addition to 145 losses and/or refusals. Study design The present cross-sectional study included data collected from second follow-up per- formed in 2019 year. The STROBE checklist was followed to report this study14. The follow-up flowchart is shown in Figure 1. Considering the mortality rate, 1,000 older adults were estimated to be eligible for the second follow-up. Data collection included face-to-face home interviews. A questionnaire, anthropometric measurements and physical performance tests were performed. The questionnaire included questions about socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, general and oral health. Interviews were carried out primarily with the elderly. If the elderly were unable to answer the questions accu- rately, participation of a caregiver or family member was requested. On March 11, 2020, this follow-up was interrupted due to COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, of the 1,000 elderly people estimated to participate, 537 interviews were performed, and 58 deaths were identified. Baseline 2014 (n = 1,451) Follow-up 2016 (n = 1,161) *Follow-up 2019 (n = 1,000) “HOW ARE YOU?” Cohort study Inclusion Analysis Individuals surveyed (n = 537) Individuals included in the study (n = 493) Individuals analyzed (n = 493) Not included • Individuals not able to answer GOHAI (n = 17) • Incomplete answers (n = 27) *Follow-up 2019 was interrupted due to COVID-19 pandemic. Figure 1. Flowchart describing the sample according to the STROBE guideline. 4 Serpa et al. Braz J Oral Sci. 2024;23:e241678 Outcome variable: Oral Health-related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) Oral Health-related Quality of Life was assessed using the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI), an instrument that evaluates oral health self-percep- tion in older adults16. The GOHAI consists of 12 questions with three answer options (always, sometimes and never). Total score ranges from 12 to 36 points. The higher the value, the better the self-perceived oral health. The total score is classified as high (> 34), moderate (30 to 33) and low (< 30)16. The GOHAI is also presented in three dimensions, as following: a) physical dimension (feeding, speech and swallowing), psychosocial dimension (appearance, social relationship), and pain or discomfort. For analytical purposes, it was considered the global score and the scores of the three dimensions as a continuous variable. Exposure variable The exposure variable considered was the need to replace dentures. The need to replace denture was evaluated through the question “Do you think you need to replace the denture that you are using?”. Possible answers were yes and no. Covariates Covariates included gender (female and male), age (60-69 years, 70-79 years, and ≥ 80 years at the baseline), skin color (white and non-white), education, socioeco- nomic position (SEP), and oral health satisfaction. Schooling was categorized as nonliterate, < 8 years, ≥ 8 years. The SEP was measured using the National Eco- nomic Indicator (IEN - Indicador Econômico Nacional) developed from 12 material assets and the level of education of the head of the family, combined through prin- cipal component analysis17. The IEN was classified into quintiles: first quintile as the lowest IEN and the fifth as the highest IEN. The variable Oral Health Satisfaction was assessed through the question: “How much are you satisfied with the health of your teeth and your mouth?” (very satisfied, satis- fied, dissatisfied, and very dissatisfied). Ethical Aspects This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the School of Medicine of the Federal University of Pelotas under protocol number 54141716.0.0000.5317. The participation of individuals in the study was voluntary. All participants signed a consent term. Statistical Analysis A descriptive analysis estimating absolute and relative frequencies and means (standard deviation) of the variables of interest was performed. Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression coefficients were calculated to assess the effect of the need to replace dentures on the OHRQoL. Robust variance estimates were used in linear regression models to deal with heteroscedasticity. The adjustment vari- ables were gender, skin color, age, socioeconomic position, schooling, and oral 5 Serpa et al. Braz J Oral Sci. 2024;23:e241678 health satisfaction. These socioeconomic characteristics have been suggested as confounding factors in conceptual theoretical models in the literature2. The signifi- cance level was set at p < 0.05 and confidence level of 95 (95% CI). Results Of the 537 elderly people interviewed, 17 questionnaires were answered by other peo- ple, such as the caregiver or person responsible for the elderly person. For analysis purposes, interviews answered by someone other than the elderly were not consid- ered in this study. Besides, only complete cases related to the GOHAI questionnaire were considered. Thus, 493 older adults’ participants were included. According to the description of the individuals who answered the GOHAI (n=493), it was observed that 60.2% (n=297) were in the age group of 60-69 years and 65.9% (n=325) were women. The majority of sample had white skin color 80.7%(n=398). About schooling, almost 60%(n=342) had studied less than 8 years and 22.1% (n=103) belonged to the third SEP quintile (data not shown in table). Table 1. Description of the sample (baseline 2014 and follow up 2019). Follow up 2014 Follow up 2019 p-value* N (%) IC (95%) N (%) IC (95%) Gender 0.331 Female 914(63) 349 (65.4) 61.1-69.4 Male 537 (37) 185 (34.6) 30.6-38.8 Age 0.003 60-69 years 756 (52.3) 311 (58.4) 54.1-62.6 70-79 years 460 (31.8) 168 (31.5) 27.5-35 ≥80 years 230 (15.9) 54 (10.1) 67.6-12.9 Skin Color 0.390 White 1,211 (83.7) 431 (80.9) 77.2-84.1 Black 168 (11.6) 71 (13.3) 10.5-16.5 Brown 68 (4.5) 29 (5.4) 3.7-7.7 Yellow 1 (0.1) 1 (0.2) 0.05-0.10 Indigenous 1 (0.1) 1 (0.2) 0.05-0.10 Socioeconomic position 0.747 1º quintile 282 (20.5) 93 (18.3) 15.1-21.9 2º quintile 269 (19.6) 96 (19) 15.6-22.6 3º quintile 275 (20) 110 (21.7) 18.1-25.5 4º quintile 274 (20) 109 (21.5) 17.9-25.3 5º quintile 273 (19.9) 99 (19.5) 16.1-23.2 Continue 6 Serpa et al. Braz J Oral Sci. 2024;23:e241678 Continuation Schooling Nonliterate 56 (11.4) < 8 years 286 (58.1) ≥ 8 years 150 (30.5) TOTAL 1,451 534 The total in each variable can vary due to missing data. *p<0.05. Around ¾ of the sample reported using dentures (75.5%), and more than half (51.1%) reported no need for a denture replacement and were satisfied with their oral health (75.8%) (very satisfied 86;17.5% and satisfied 287;58.3%) (data not shown in table). In relation to OHRQoL, the mean GOHAI total score was 32.7 (SD±0.16). When the Phys- ical, Psychosocial and Pain or discomfort dimensions were considered, the means 13.2 (SD±0.09), 11.0 (SD±0.07) and 8.5 (SD±0.04) were observed (Figure 2). 40 30 20 10 0 Boxplot of the GOHAI total score and the GOHAI dimensions scores GOHAI total Psychosocial dimension Physical dimension Pain or discomfort dimension Figure 2. Boxplot of the GOHAI total score and the GOHAI dimensions scores. Comparing baseline and follow-up samples, in both evaluations the participants were mostly female, the majority were in the 60-69 age group, and self-reported white skin color. Statistically, the only significant difference found between the two samples was in age (p<0.003). Noteworthy, this difference occurred in the category over 80 years and was due to the mortality rate of the participants. There was no significant differ- ence between the other characteristics (Table 1). Table 2 shows unadjusted and adjusted estimates from linear regression models evaluating the association between the need to replace dentures and the GOHAI 7 Serpa et al. Braz J Oral Sci. 2024;23:e241678 outcomes. The need for denture replacement was associated with a decrease in the GOHAI scores and in the GOHAI dimensions. After adjustments, only the asso- ciation between the need to replace dentures and the pain or discomfort dimension was vanished (β -0.11 [95%CI -0.27; 0.07] p-value 0.208). However, those individuals who reported the need to replace their dentures presented a decrease in the GOHAI scores (β -1.14 [95%CI -1.80; -0.48] p-value <0.001) and in the GOHAI dimensions, including Physical (β -0.56 [95%CI -0.94; -0.17] p-value 0.005), and Psychosocial (β -0.48 [95%CI -0.74; -0,22]) dimensions. Table 2. Unadjusted and Adjusted estimates from linear regression models evaluating the association between the need to replace dentures and the GOHAI outcomes. Outcomes Exposure Need to replace dentures (yes) Unadjusted Analysis Adjusted Analysis* β CI (95%) p-value β CI (95%) p-value GOHAI score -2.07 -2.75; -1.38 <0.001 -1.14 -1.80; -0.48 0.001 Physical Dimension -0.74 -1.11; -0.36 <0.001 -0.56 -0.94; -0.17 0.005 Psychological Dimension -1.02 -1.33; -0.72 <0.001 -0.48 -0.74; -0.22 0.001 Pain or discomfort Dimension -0.31 -0.47; -0.14 <0.001 -0.11 -0.27; 0.07 0.208 *Adjustment for: gender, skin color, age, socioeconomic position, schooling and oral health satisfaction. Discussion The overall results showed that individuals who reported a need to replace their den- tures had lower means in the GOHAI index, especially on the physical and psycholog- ical dimensions. However, our results should be interpreted with caution considering some limitations. The COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions interrupted the collection of follow-up data in March 2020. Thus, we were not able to interview the elderly cohort. Even though, the surveyed sample did not differ from the original cohort population. Furthermore, it is important to emphasize that the research focused on only one city in region of the country. Another limitation is the cross-sectional design of the study that impaired the establishment of causal inference between the investigated factors. Nevertheless, the study has several strengths, including the quality of the sam- pling method—systematic and representative or population based—the use of well-recognized methods, and trained interviewers. Also, subjective measures, such as the perceived need to replace the denture and the self-perception of oral health, reflects individuals’ interpretation of their health status and it’s based on the social, cultural and historical context of their lives11. Normative use of prosthesis usually is higher than the subjective perceived need, except when anterior losses are pres- ent. Therefore, subjective evaluation could reflect better the real need of dental prosthesis, worse socioeconomic conditions may reflect greater tooth loss, lack of prosthetic rehabilitation and non-use of dental services18. Some authors also stated that the older population often seems to perceive their oral health conditions to be favorable18,19, even when the clinical conditions are poor, accepting disabilities as 8 Serpa et al. Braz J Oral Sci. 2024;23:e241678 something normal of aging, not realizing their need. This can probably impact on their quality of life5,18,20,21. In the present study, around ¾ of the sample reported to use dentures, finding similar to that observed in the Brazilian National Oral Health Survey of 20103. In addition, most of older adults reported satisfaction with their oral health, corroborating with previous findings from the literature7,8, being such satisfaction attributed to the accep- tance of this population to oral health ´problems as a natural consequence of the aging process19. Aging process seems to be associated with personal beliefs and values, which may lead older people to believe that there is no way to avoid pain and illness, affecting their self-perception of oral conditions21. Two studies conducted in India showed positive changes in the OHRQoL of the older adults after prosthetic rehabilitation6,21. Despite a short follow-up period, the individuals reported improvement in functional changes after placement of complete dentures compared to the previous condition (edentulism)6,21. An improvement in masticatory performance and OHRQoL was also observed after the installation of dentures in studies that used instruments other than the GOHAI to measure the OHRQoL10,22. A study conducted in Brazil, taking data from the last National Oral Health Survey, observed that the use of prosthetic replacements increased the OHRQoL (measured by using Oral Impact on Daily Per- formance -OIDP- questionnaires) from adults and elder adults23. In the present study, individuals who reported need to replace dentures had a decrease in the GOHAI score, which means a worsening in their quality of life16. We also found a difference between individuals who perceived and those who did not perceive the need to change dentures in the mean of the physical dimension, which can be related to the maladaptation and retention of dentures, negatively affecting the capacity of chewing, eating and talking to the individuals9. Other studies that evaluated older individuals who had problems such as discomfort due to unsatisfactory complete dentures, found that the replacement for new dentures resulted in an improvement in satisfaction with oral health and in the OHRQoL score, mainly in aspects of eating, smiling, social relation, and chewing efficacy8,9. Based on our findings, the authors hypothesize that more important than the use of dental prosthesis is the individual’s satisfaction with their dentures, including aes- thetic and functional aspects, directly impacting the OHRQoL. Old dentures could bring discomfort to users due the prolonged use of them, becoming worn, impairing the chewing capacity of food and the person’s phonetics. In addition, a more reten- tive/stable denture, like a new denture, could be associated with an improvement in OHRQoL4,9,20,22. Another important aspect is that poorly fitted dentures can restrict the diet and make people feel socially uncomfortable. Individuals with prosthetic rehabilitation show improvement in the psychosocial and physical dimensions5. The combination of diet and a complete denture treatment can improve food intake in edentulous patients10. It is also important to highlight that the aesthetic appearance is fundamental to one’s mental wellbeing and social relationship. The rehabilitation with new dentures can make it possible for individuals to get comfortable smiling, speak- ing and may raise a patient’s self-esteem and self-confidence levels9. 9 Serpa et al. Braz J Oral Sci. 2024;23:e241678 Regarding the pain or discomfort dimension, after adjusting the analysis for socioeco- nomic characteristics, no difference was found regarding the need for replacement of dentures. This finding is in agreement with another study that found positive improve- ment in all dimensions, except for pain5. The most likely explanation for this observa- tion is related to the more resilience observed in older adults, which believe the idea that it is normal to feel pain, being not bothered, but rather considering as part of their daily lives and the aging process21. The complete lack of teeth (edentulism) is associated with depression, therefore, the use of complete dentures could also contribute to improves elder adults mental health24. In Brazil, the National Oral Health Policy ensures free-of-charge oral rehabil- itation using dental prosthesis within the Unified Health System (Brazilian acronym SUS)23,25. Despite of this, the reality is that the access remains limited. Accredited lab- oratories do not cover all regions of the country and the demand is high, while the delivery of dentures is low25. The provision of dental prostheses in the public health system enables the universalization of this service25. Considering the poor oral health condition of Brazilian older adults, there is an important need for expansion of the access for free prosthetic rehabilitation and improvement of these services3,23. Conclusion Our findings showed an association between the need for denture replacement and lower averages in the GOHAI score, including the physical and psychosocial dimen- sions. However, no differences were found for the pain or discomfort dimension. To know the perception of the older adults in relation to their need for denture replace- ment, regardless of the reason, highlight the importance of also considering subjec- tive measures of oral health in the dental care of older adults. Data availability Datasets related to this article will be available upon request to the corresponding author. Conflict of interest None Author contributions All authors conceived the ideas; S.A.K., M.G.C., S.S collected the data; M.G.C., S.A.K. analyzed the data; M.G.C, S.A.K. and S.S. led the writing. F.F.D and R.T.B. reviewed the manuscript. All authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript. References 1. Govindaraju T, Sahle BW, McCaffrey TA, McNeil JJ, Owen AJ. Dietary patterns and quality of life in older adults: a systematic review. Nutrients. 2018 Jul;10(8):971. doi: 10.3390/nu10080971.  10 Serpa et al. Braz J Oral Sci. 2024;23:e241678 2. Correa MB, Peres MA, Peres KG, Horta BL, Gigante DP, Demarco FF. Life-course determinants of need for dental prostheses at age 24. J Dent Res. 2010 Jul;89(7):733-8. doi: 10.1177/0022034510366681. 3. Azevedo JS, Azevedo MS, Oliveira LJC, Correa MB, Demarco FF. [Needs for dental prostheses and their use in elderly brazilians according to the national oral health survey (SBBrazil 2010): Prevalence rates and associated factors]. Cad Saude Publica. 2017 Aug;33(8):e00054016. Portuguese. doi: 10.1590/0102-311X00054016. 4. Emami E, de Souza RF, Kabawat M, Feine JS. The impact of edentulism on oral and general health. Int J Dent. 2013;2013:498305. doi: 10.1155/2013/498305. 5. Shrestha B, Basnet BB, Adhikari G. A questionnaire study on the impact on oral health-related quality of life by conventional rehabilitation of edentulous patient. BDJ Open. 2020 Jan;6:3. doi: 10.1038/s41405-020-0029-5.  6. Kaushik K, Dhawan P, Tandan P, Jain M. Oral health-related quality of life among patients after complete denture rehabilitation: a 12-month follow-up study. Int J Appl Basic Med Res. 2018 Jul-Sep;8(3):169-73. doi: 10.4103/ijabmr.IJABMR_171_18.  7. Ilha L, Martins AB, Abegg C. Oral impact on daily performance: need and use of dental prostheses among Brazilian adults. J Oral Rehabil. 2016 Feb;43(2):119-26. doi: 10.1111/joor.12351. 8. Erić J, Tihaček Šojić L, Bjelović L, Tsakos G. Changes in oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) and satisfaction with conventional complete dentures among elderly people. Oral Health Prev Dent. 2017;15(3):237-44. doi: 10.3290/j.ohpd.a38524.  9. Goiato MC, Bannwart LC, Moreno A, Dos Santos DM, Martini AP, Pereira LV. Quality of life and stimulus perception in patients’ rehabilitated with complete denture. J Oral Rehabil. 2012 Jun;39(6):438-45. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2842.2011.02285.x.  10. Amagai N, Komagamine Y, Kanazawa M, Iwaki M, Jo A, Suzuki H, et al. The effect of prosthetic rehabilitation and simple dietary counseling on food intake and oral health related quality of life among the edentulous individuals: a randomized controlled trial. J Dent. 2017 Oct;65:89-94. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2017.07.011.  11. Vettore MV, Aqeeli A. The roles of contextual and individual social determinants of oral health-related quality of life in Brazilian adults. Qual Life Res. 2016 Apr;25(4):1029-42. doi: 10.1007/s11136-015-1118-0. 12. de Medeiros AKB, Campos MFTP, da Silva Costa RSG, de Melo LA, Barbosa GAS, Carreiro ADFP. Improvement in quality of life of elderly edentulous patients with new complete dentures: a systematic review. Int J Prosthodont. 2019 May/Jun;32(3):272-7. doi: 10.11607/ijp.6075. 13. El Osta N, Haddad E, Fakhouri J, Saad R, El Osta L. Comparison of psychometric properties of GOHAI, OHIP-14, and OHIP-EDENT as measures of oral health in complete edentulous patients aged 60 years and more. Qual Life Res. 2021 Apr;30(4):1199-213. doi: 10.1007/s11136-020-02709-w. 14. Vandenbroucke JP, von Elm E, Altman DG, Gøtzsche PC, Mulrow CD, Pocock SJ, et al. Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE): explanation and elaboration. Int J Surg. 2014 Dec;12(12):1500-24. doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.07.014.  15. Bielemann RM, LaCroix AZ, Bertoldi AD, Tomasi E, Demarco FF, Gonzalez MC, et al. Objectively Measured Physical Activity Reduces the Risk of Mortality among Brazilian Older Adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020 Jan;68(1):137-46. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16180.  16. Vettore MV, Rebelo MAB, Rebelo Vieira JM, Cardoso EM, Birman D, Leão ATT. Psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of GOHAI among community-dwelling elderly people. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Nov 9;19(22):14725. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192214725.  17. Barros AJ, Victora CG. [A nationwide wealth score based on the 2000 Brazilian demographic census]. Rev Saude Publica. 2005 Aug;39(4):523-9. Portuguese. doi: 10.1590/s0034-89102005000400002. 11 Serpa et al. Braz J Oral Sci. 2024;23:e241678 18. Azevedo MS, Correa MB, Azevedo JS, Demarco FF. Dental prosthesis use and/or need impacting the oral health-related quality of life in Brazilian adults and elders: results from a national survey. J Dent. 2015 Dec;43(12):1436-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2015.10.016. 19. Baniasadi K, Armoon B, Higgs P, Bayat AH, Mohammadi Gharehghani MA, Hemmat M, et al. The association of oral health status and socio-economic determinants with oral health-related quality of life among the elderly: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Dent Hyg. 2021 May;19(2):153-65. doi: 10.1111/idh.12489. 20. Ida Y, Yamashita S. Analysis of the relevant factors associated with oral health-related quality of life in elderly denture wearers. J Prosthodont Res. 2022 Jan 11;66(1):93-100. doi: 10.2186/jpr.JPR_D_20_00311. 21. Dable RA, Nazirkar GS, Singh SB, Wasnik PB. Assessment of oral health related quality of life among completely edentulous patients in western India by using GOHAI. J Clin Diagn Res. 2013 Sep;7(9):2063-7. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2013/6377.3406. 22. Yamamoto S, Shiga H. Masticatory performance and oral health-related quality of life before and after complete denture treatment. J Prosthodont Res. 2018 Jul;62(3):370-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jpor.2018.01.006.  23. Azevedo MS, Correa MB, Azevedo JS, Demarco FF. Dental prosthesis use and/or need impacting the oral health-related quality of life in Brazilian adults and elders: results from a National Survey. J Dent. 2015 Dec;43(12):1436-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2015.10.016. 24. Cademartori MG, Gastal MT, Nascimento GG, Demarco FF, Corrêa MB. Is depression associated with oral health outcomes in adults and elders? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Oral Investig. 2018 Nov;22(8):2685-702. doi: 10.1007/s00784-018-2611-y. 25. Alves FCS, Santos LPS, Oliveira NR, Guimarães LE. Productivity of SUS dental prosthesis laboratories in the state of Bahia. J Dent Public Health. 2020;11(1):18-24. Portuguese. doi:10.17267/2596-3368dentistry.v11i1.2860.