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Orofacial pain and its potential oral causes in older people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia
Author(s) -
Delwel Suzanne,
Scherder Erik J. A.,
Baat Cees,
Binnekade Tarik T.,
Wouden Johannes C.,
Hertogh Cees M. P. M.,
Maier Andrea B.,
Perez Roberto S. G. M.,
Lobbezoo Frank
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of oral rehabilitation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-2842
pISSN - 0305-182X
DOI - 10.1111/joor.12724
Subject(s) - dementia , orofacial pain , cognitive impairment , cognition , medicine , psychology , gerontology , psychiatry , clinical psychology , physical therapy , disease
Summary Background The number of people with dementia and natural dentition is growing. As dementia progresses, the degree of self‐care decreases and the risk of oral health problems and orofacial pain increases. Objectives To examine and compare the presence of orofacial pain and its potential causes in older people with Mild Cognitive Impairment ( MCI ) or dementia. Methods In this cross‐sectional observational study, the presence of orofacial pain and its potential causes was studied in 348 participants with MCI or dementia with all levels of cognitive impairment in two outpatient memory clinics and ten nursing homes. Results Orofacial pain was reported by 25.7% of the 179 participants who were considered to present a reliable pain self‐report (Mini‐Mental State Examination score ≥14 points), while it could not be determined in people with more severe cognitive impairment. The oral health examination of the 348 participants indicated that potential painful conditions, such as coronal caries, root caries, tooth root remnants or ulcers were present in 50.3%. There was a significant correlation between the level of cognitive impairment and the number of teeth, r = 0.185, P = 0.003, teeth with coronal caries, r = −0.238, P < 0.001, and the number of tooth root remnants, r = −0.229, P = 0.004, after adjusting for age. Conclusions This study indicated that orofacial pain and its potential causes were frequently present in participants with MCI or dementia. Therefore, a regular oral examination by (oral) healthcare providers in people with MCI or dementia remains imperative, even if no pain is reported.