Oral health education and professional responsibility in dental prosthesis repair for older adults

Abstract

Introduction: Dental prosthesis repair in older adults requires the integration of clinical criteria, preventive education, and professional responsibility. However, the coordination of these components within procedures that support self-care and prosthetic follow-up remains a conceptual organizational need. Objective: To design an integrated proposal for oral health education and professional responsibility in dental prosthesis repair for older adults. Materials and methods: A documentary study with a descriptive-propositional scope and a non-experimental design was conducted, focusing on older adults with fixed or removable dental prostheses. Relevant scientific information was organized through documentary analysis and a thematic extraction matrix. No primary data were collected, and no statistical procedures were applied. Results: Three conceptual outputs were developed: an integrated matrix comprising six dimensions, a protocol structured into six care stages, and a seven-component model incorporating education as a cross-cutting function. Discussion: These outputs connected prevention, clinical assessment, therapeutic decision-making, and follow-up, providing an integrated structure for aspects previously addressed separately in the literature. Nevertheless, the conceptual framework did not demonstrate clinical effectiveness or causal relationships. Conclusions: The proposal established a foundation for integrating oral health education and professional responsibility into dental prosthesis repair. Its implementation requires expert evaluation and subsequent studies assessing feasibility and effectiveness.