Dental screening of older adults living in residential aged care facilities in Perth.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to estimate the dental treatment needs and oral health status of a sample of older adults in residential aged care facilities in Perth.

METHODS

The 348 participants (> or = 65 years) were interviewed and screened in 25 facilities. The screenings were carried out by one examiner using a mirror and a portable light.

RESULTS

Over half (52 per cent) of the participants were edentulous and 45 per cent of those edentulous participants for whom a recording was made (n=174) had oral mucosal conditions. The 164 dentate participants had a mean of 12 disease-free standing teeth, a mean decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT) of 24.7 (mean DT 0.8, mean FT 5.3) and half of them required the removal of supragingival calculus. Of those with root caries experience (n=127), a mean of 1.3 untreated decayed roots and a mean of 1.9 roots covered in plaque were recorded. The majority of the participants (83 per cent) were pensioners eligible for government subsidized dental care and 47 per cent were reported by the Directors of Nursing to have dementia.

CONCLUSIONS

The data collected here demonstrate poor oral health conditions and a substantial treatment need in a neglected population. More people in nursing homes and hostels are keeping their natural teeth compared with a similar population studied 13 years ago.