"Methods:", At the same moment, a clinical dental examination was performed, accordingly to the Word Health Organization (WHO 1987) in order to have the DMTE index and also apply the questionnaires Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE Folstein1975) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS Yesavage et al., 1983) to trace dementia and depression.For the MMSE questionnaire, scores under 24 out of 30, indicate cognition deficit. In the GDS, figures over 09 out of 30, indicate depression.
"Results:", For the DMTE index the average value was 26.4 +/- 5.6. The MMSE show that 10 elderly had cognitive deficit (18.5 %). The GDS test found a suspicion that 17 subjects (31.5 %) were depressed.
"Conclusions:", Despite being these tests not enough to diagnose the problem, it is important for the professional when examining the elderly. When these conditions are present, the rapport and the treatment planning need to be deeply altered. Patients with such problems have memory deficit, concentration problems, difficulties to answer to commands and difficulties doing their daily life activities, like oral hygiene.Dentists who deal with geriatric dentistry must apply and interpret the above questionnaires in order to perform a diligent examination of the elderly.