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Is Cognitive Status Related to Oral Hygiene Level and Appropriate for Determining Need for Oral Hygiene Assistance?
Author(s) -
Steinmassl PatriciaAnca,
Steinmassl Otto,
Kraus Gabriela,
Dumfahrt Herbert,
Grunert Ingrid
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1902/jop.2015.150349
Subject(s) - oral hygiene , dentures , medicine , dentistry , test (biology) , population , hygiene , dental hygiene , environmental health , paleontology , pathology , biology
Background: With declining general health, the maintenance of oral health becomes increasingly difficult. Unfortunately, health care resources are limited. An assessment tool for detecting a patient’s need for oral health care assistance would promote its adequate distribution. The aim of this study is to evaluate if the Shulman clock‐drawing test score is a suitable assessment tool for determining the need for oral hygiene assistance. Methods: Data collected from recent dental checkups of 126 inhabitants of five Austrian residential care facilities were analyzed. The Shulman clock‐drawing test score was used as a measure for cognitive abilities and related to tooth and denture hygiene indices, which were assessed using the approximal space plaque index (API) and the denture plaque index (DPI). Results: Shulman score values were distributed almost evenly in the study population. The mean API was 83.6% (SD 20.2%) for the maxilla and 94.9% (SD 15.6%) for the mandible. The mean DPI was 43.9% (SD 31.4%). Cognitive impairment was not statistically related to the dental or denture hygiene index. Conclusions: A high Shulman clock‐drawing test score indicates the need for oral hygiene assistance, but it is not suitable as a single tool to assess this need. Patients with other disabilities might equally qualify for assistance. Dentures, however, can be cleaned quickly and efficiently independently of patient compliance; therefore, cleaning the patients’ dentures should be part of nursing personnel’s daily care routine for every patient.