Premium
Dental treatment needs in Dutch nursing homes offering integrated dental care
Author(s) -
Gerritsen Paul F. M.,
Cune Marco S.,
van der Bilt Andries,
de Putter Cornelis
Publication year - 2011
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.1754-4505.2011.00185.x
Subject(s) - medicine , oral hygiene , dental care , dentistry , dental nurse , oral health , family medicine , nursing , nurse education
The purpose of this study was to determine the dental treatment needs of the residents in nursing homes (NHs) where integrated dental care has been offered without financial barriers. The dental status and surgical, prosthetic, restorative, and periodontal treatment needs were determined for 432 residents (average age 78.8 years) in three Dutch NHs. Although the subjects had no complaints, 72% had dental treatment needs. It was determined that treatment was necessary for 64% of the edentulous subjects (N = 316), 100% of the partially dentate subjects (N = 76), and 87% of the fully dentate subjects (N = 40). We concluded that when residents can no longer carry out oral hygiene independently, it is very difficult for them to maintain a level of oral health where their dental treatment needs have been met, especially for dentate residents.