Retrospective study of dental treatment for elderly hospital inpatients in Wolverhampton.

Records of 430 elderly hospital in-patients in Wolverhampton who required dental treatment between 1981 and 1987 were examined. The majority of them had ill-fitting dentures (39.1 per cent) followed by 'lost' dentures (20.4 per cent). Construction of new and replacement dentures and denture relines and repairs formed the majority of the treatment requirement. Other types of treatment included extractions, fillings and prophylactic care. Treatment for oral pathology was undertaken by the oral surgeons. Treatment was provided by the community dental service; this was carried out by a community clinical dental officer on a sessional basis working under the supervision of the consultant oral surgeon.