Este estudo teve como principal objetivo descrever a situacao de saude bucal da populacao idosa da faixa etaria de 60 a 75 anos, residente em cinco unidades asilares da regiao metropolitana de Fortaleza. A pesquisa teve como desenho um corte transversal de carater descritivo, verificando a realidade de todos os idosos dessa faixa etaria com um total de 160 idosos investigados. Foi realizado um levantamento epidemiologico investigando os indices CPOD para a obtencao da situacao de prevalencia e severidade da doenca carie, IPC (Indice Periodontal Comunitario) para verificar a condicao periodontal e uso e necessidade de protese para averiguar a extensao da mutilacao dental e a tentativa reabilitadora. Foi aplicado um questionario estruturado e padronizado sobre variaveis socioeconomicas, habitos de higiene, acesso aos servicos e o indice GOHAI (Geriatric Oral Health Assement Index) que sonda a capacidade de autopercepcao do idoso de seus problemas bucais. O CPOD medio encontrado foi de 29,6, com 88,3% de dentes excluidos, 56,9% dos examinados eram desdentados totais bimaxilares, em relacao ao uso de proteses, observou-se que 58,8% dos entrevistados nao usavam protese superior enquanto 73,7% dos individuos necessitavam de protese superior parcial ou total, ao se analisar a arcada inferior constata-se que 74,4% nao usavam protese inferior e que 81,2% necessitavam desse tipo de protese. O resultado do IPC permitiu visualizar a extensao de mutilados bucais pois 66,2% dos entrevistados nao apresentavam nenhum sextante que pudesse ser codificado pela usencia de dentes. Dentre os examinados, o sextante que esteve mais presente foi o central inferior, 15,6% dos entrevistados tiveram como maior codigo do IPC a presenca de calculo dental. O GOHAI medio da populacao foi de 34,4 revelando que apesar de todo esse quadro epidemiologico desfavoravel, essa populacao avalia sua condicao bucal como boa, nao apresentando maiores dificuldades para realizar tarefas como alimentar-se, falar e relacionar-se com outras pessoas. / ORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS OF INSTITUTIONALIZED ELDERLY IN FORTALEZAâS METROPOLITAN REGION This study had as main purpose to describe the situation of the oral health of old-aged people from 60 to 75 years old, who live in five units of shelters of the metropolitan region of Fortaleza. The research had as a crosssectional desing with descriptive character, verifying the reality of all old-aged people from this age range with a total of 160 people investigated. A epidemic survey was accomplished investigating the CPOD indexes to obtain the prevalent and severe situation of the caries disease, CPI (Community Periodontal Index) to verify the periodontal condition, the use and necessity of prosthesis to inquire the extension of dental mutilation and attempt of rehabilitation. A structured and standardized questionnaire was applied about social-economic variables, hygiene habits, access to dental services and the GOHAI (Geriatric Oral Health Assessment) index which sounds the capacity and auto-perception of old-aged people and their mouth problems. The average CPOD found was 29.6, with 88.3% of excluded teeth, 56.9% of the examined people had no teeth in both maxillaries; concerning the use of prosthesis, it was noticed that 58.8% of the people who were interviewed did not wear upper prosthesis while 73.7% of these people needed partial or total upper prosthesis;analyzing the lower dental arch it was noticed that 74.4% did not use the lower prosthesis and that 81.2% needed this kind of prosthesis. The IPC result allowed a visualization of the extension of mouth mutilated people because 66.2% of people who were interviewed did not show any problem that could be codified by the lack of teeth. Among the examined people, the most frequent problem was the mid-lower ,15.6% of the people interviewed had as the higher code of IPC the presence of dental stone. The average GOHAI of the population was 34.4 revealing that despite of all the unpropitious epidemiological situation, this population estimates as good their oral condition, not presenting major difficulties to accomplish daily tasks such as to feed themselves, to talk and to relate to other people