Assistência odontológica a idosos fragilizados com diagnóstico de câncer de boca: Uma revisão integrativa

Abstract

With the increasing incidence of cancer, particularly among the elderly, healthcare professionals may increasingly encounter the geriatric syndrome of frailty. The study aimed to identify the main challenges in providing dental care to elderly individuals diagnosed with oral cancer and highlight the social impacts of the disease on these patients lives. It is an Integrative Literature Review whose bibliographic survey was conducted in the PubMed and Medline databases. Through a search using the intersection of the descriptors "Mouth Neoplasms" AND "Frail Elderly," a total of 27 articles were obtained. Of these, only 4 were chosen for evaluation, as they addressed the physical and psychological situation of elderly individuals with a cancer diagnosis after treatment. In addition, the free search strategy was also used, obtaining 6 articles, both selected for methodological analysis. The articles revealed that patients exhibit physical and psychological frailty in the face of the disease and its treatment, poor oral hygiene, a positive response to antineoplastic therapies, and a satisfactory prognosis. Aging is affected not only by an individual's genetic inheritance but also by economic, social, environmental, and medical factors, including physical and mental health. Thus, the increase in life expectancy of the population accompanies a higher incidence of cancer. Concerning oral cancer, it is evident that the role of the dentist in early diagnosis, monitoring oral health before, during, and after antineoplastic treatment is crucial for improving the quality of life. The importance of interprofessional collaboration among healthcare teams is emphasized to promote awareness of oral health care.