Impactos da reabilitação protética na autoestima e na qualidade de vida do paciente idoso: revisão de literatura

Abstract

Introduction: Edentulism represents an important public health problem among the elderly population, compromising essential functions such as mastication, phonation, and facial aesthetics, in addition to causing emotional, social, and nutritional impacts that directly interfere with quality of life and self-esteem. Objective: To analyze the impact of prosthetic rehabilitation on self-esteem and quality of life in elderly patients, considering functional, emotional, and social aspects related to rehabilitative treatment. Methods: This is a qualitative and descriptive literature review based on studies published between 2015 and 2026 in PubMed, SciELO, Web of Science, and Scopus, as well as academic dissertations and institutional documents. The descriptors “edentulism”, “prosthetic rehabilitation”, “oral health related quality of life”, and “elderly” were used. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 20 publications were selected for analysis. Results: The studies analyzed showed that prosthetic rehabilitation promotes significant improvement in masticatory function, phonation, facial aesthetics, and social interaction, contributing to increased self-esteem and quality of life among elderly patients. Implant-supported prostheses also showed better functional outcomes and greater patient satisfaction when compared to conventional prostheses, although clinical, economic, and individual factors directly influence treatment outcomes. Conclusion: Prosthetic rehabilitation plays a fundamental role in promoting self-esteem, autonomy, and quality of life among the elderly population, going beyond simple tooth replacement.