Relación del autoestima con el edentulismo y estado protésico en adultos mayores que asisten en el centro vida "años maravillosos" en Bucaramanga

Abstract

Introduction: Edentulism, or the partial or total loss of teeth, is a prevalent condition in older adults that can affect both masticatory function and self-esteem, as well as mental health. Objective: To analyze the relationship between self-esteem, edentulism, and prosthetic status in older adults attending the Centro Vida Años Maravillosos in the Real de Minas branch in 2025. Materials and methods: An analytical, cross-sectional observational study with a sample of 106 older adults. Each participant signed informed consent as part of the inclusion criteria. Self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Scale with sociodemographic and clinical aspects. A univariate analysis was performed using frequencies with percentages as the median and standard deviation (SD). A bivariate analysis was performed using Chi2, Fisher's exact test, and Kruskall-Wallis tests with p values <0.05. The study was classified as a low-risk study since it consists of a record of sensitive data that covers a psychological topic. Results: It was found that 50% of the participants had low self-esteem, while 43.3% had a medium level and only 5.6% had high self-esteem. In addition, 59.43% used prostheses in the upper jaw and 28.30% in the lower jaw, although 42.45% required a prosthesis in the lower jaw and did not have one. Statistical analysis did not show a significant relationship between denture use and self-esteem, although low-income participants tended to have lower self-esteem (p=0.035). Conclusion: These findings suggest that, although tooth loss impacts quality of life, other factors such as socioeconomic status may have a greater influence on older adults' self-esteem. It is important to provide support as they cope with tooth loss and a significant change in lifestyle.