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A comparison of the oral health of persons with and without chronic mental illness in community settings
Author(s) -
Stiefel Doris J.,
Truelove Edmond L.,
Menard Thomas W.,
Anderson Virginia K.,
Doyle Patricia E.,
Mandel Lynn S.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-4505.1990.tb01079.x
Subject(s) - medicine , oral hygiene , mental illness , gingivitis , tongue , dry mouth , incidence (geometry) , dental plaque , dentistry , psychiatry , mental health , saliva , pathology , physics , optics
Severe dental disease has been reported for patients receiving psychiatric treatment. This study compared the oral status of non‐institutionalized adults with chronic mental illness with a similar group without such history, and evaluated relative risk factors, for example, xerostomia, diet, hygiene, and poverty. A sample of 37 subjects with chronic mental illness (CMI) and 29 control subjects without mental illness were assessed for dental, medical and social history; head, neck, and oral soft tissue pathology; salivary flow; DMFS, gingivitis, loss of periodontal attachment, plaque, and calculus. The groups were equivalent in socioeconomic level, education, dental history, and home care. All subjects with CMI received psychotropic medications (mean of 3.8 drugs for 10.3 years). The CMI group had significantly higher incidence in the following variables: self‐reported dry mouth; consumption of carbonated beverages ( P <.001); mucosal, lip, and tongue lesions ( P <.01); coronal smooth surface caries ( P< .001); severity of plaque ( P< .001) and calculus ( P< .01); and salivary flow ( P< .05). No significant differences were evident in the M and F components of DMFS, in gingivitis or loss of attachment. The results indicate significant increases in risk factors and increased oral pathosis in persons with mental illness who live in community settings compared with a control group that showed dental neglect.