TITLE:
Clinical Evaluation and Orodental Status in a Group of Elderly Institutionalised Patients
AUTHORS:
Massimo Corsalini, Daniela Di Venere, Gianluca Stefanachi, Silvio Tafuri, Francesco Pettini
KEYWORDS:
Institutionalised Hospital Care, Oral Health, Oral Cleanliness, Treatment Needs
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Aging Research,
Vol.3 No.3,
July
22,
2014
ABSTRACT: 10% of elderly patients are functionally dependents and they therefore
need permanent assistance. Orodental alterations may evolve into a pathological
state in elderly people, which is increasing in the recent decades. The current
study analysed institutionalized patients in the district of Bari (Southern
Italy), who have been so far monitored. We assessed 125 elderly institutionalized
patients. The assessment has been carried out by an assessment questionnaire
aiming at evaluating the patient’s psychophysical health status, objective
intraoral test and prosthetic rehabilitations. About 90% of enrolled patients
reported a good general health status. The main dental problems are due to the
complete lack of specific prevention and treatment programs, together with
handicap, presence of systemic diseases and medicines taken. The level of oral
hygiene is poor and the conditions of the residual dental elements are
precarious because of root caries and periodontal problems. Prostheses are
usually old (on average 15) and appear scarcely retentive and unstable. We
believe in the need for specific interventions aiming at the various issues
emerging from the present study, so as to achieve a smaller prevalence of
dental loss, periodontal disease and caries. These relatively simple
interventions are now lacking because of the non-demand of treatment from
patients and for economical reasons.