The need for complete dentures in Brazil: an epidemiological approach for the next 10 years

ABSTRACT

The only two censuses on oral health (Levantamento Epidemiológico em Saúde Bucal em 1986 e Projeto em Saúde Bucal de 2003) show a tendency in the reduction of edentulous patients in Brazil. The aim of this article was to estimate the variation in rates of the need for dentures in Brazil in 2010 and 2020. The projection was obtained from a linear variation carried out between the 1986 and 2003 censuses. A formula was used to calculate the result, which showed a strong trend in the decline of the number of edentulous patients until 2020. After the result analyses, it was found that by 2020 the need for complete denture for people between 15 and 74 years old will be none. Unfortunately, the only two censuses on oral health do not give us sufficient data to show a reliable projection of edentulous patients in Brazil