Factors associated with satisfaction with dental services among the elderly

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prevalence of elderly users' satisfaction with dental care and associated factors. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted with 495 elderly individuals aged 65-74 years, without cognitive impairment according to the Mini-Mental State Examination, who used dental services of the municipality of Montes Claros (Southeastern Brazil) from 2008 to 2009. A two-stage cluster, complex probability sample was used. Trained/calibrated professionals and students conducted tests and household interviews using handheld computers with software developed for this purpose. In the statistical analysis, with correction by design effect, PASW(R) Statistics 18.0 was utilized. To identify associations between satisfaction and the factors of interest, Poisson regression was conducted, estimating the prevalence ratio and the 95% confidence interval (PR / 95%CI). RESULTS: Overall, 91.4% of the elderly were satisfied. Greater satisfaction was found among users of services of the Sistema Unico de Saide (SUS - Brazil's National Health Service) (PR = 1.07; 95%CI 1.01; 1.12); those who had access to information on how to avoid oral problems (PR = 1.09; 95%CI 1.02; 1.16); those who did not use medicines (PR = 1.05; 95%CI 1.00; 1.10); and those who rated the appearance of their teeth and gums as excellent or good (PR = 1.13; 95%CI 1.00; 1.28). CONCLUSIONS: The elderly who access the service offered by SUS have greater satisfaction with dental treatment, as well as those who do not use medicines, those with better self-perception of the aesthetics of teeth and gums and those who have more access to information about how to prevent oral problems. Therefore, health care policies in the SUS have been presenting positive results.