Transition from being OK to NOT OK with tooth loss among a selection of older people in Iran: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have covered oral health and dental decay in old age, but these studies mostly applied standard quantitative tools and did not include consideration of older people's views on oral problems, partial edentulism in particular. OBJECTIVE: To explore people's perceptions in terms of the transition from being OK to NOT OK with tooth loss among a selection of older people in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A qualitative content analysis study was chosen for the research by interviewing 15 older people using open-ended questions. Criteria for participation in the study were as follows: fitting the Kennedy class I or class I modification I category, having a minimum of four teeth but not more than 20 and being aged 60 years or more. The recorded interviews were then transcribed, and a coding process was applied based on a qualitative, conventional content analysis. RESULTS: The four main themes that emerged were as follows: (i) gradual realisation of the need to deal with the problem; (ii) the search for information on dental health; (iii) the challenge of adaptation; and (iv) tendency towards dental rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: The turning point in the transition from being OK to NOT OK seemed to be associated with an edentulous crisis that had occurred from another problem such as stomach ache, distention, or nocturnal dyspnoea due to swallowing food that had not been properly chewed and had an affect on an elderly person's life, physically and mentally. It is important to recognise the concept of healthy eating in relation to edentulism.