Andersen Christina, Jespersen Astrid Pernille, Ekstrand Kim, Øzhayat Esben Boeskov
Department of Odontology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Nørre Allé 20, Copenhagen, 2200, Denmark.
The Saxo Institute, Copenhagen Centre for Health Research in Humanities, University of Copenhagen, Karen Blixens Plads 8, Copenhagen, 2300, Denmark.
BMC Oral Health. 2025 Jan 11;25(1):60. doi: 10.1186/s12903-024-05261-y.
A large number of older people depend on others for help with their daily personal care, including oral health care. Nursing home and elder-care staff often face challenges identifying older people, who are exposed to or at an increased risk of oral diseases. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify risk factors that non-dental care staff can use to identify older people at risk of oral diseases and poor oral hygiene.
In this cross-sectional study, the oral health and risk factors for poor oral health were determined for 217 care dependent older people living in two nursing homes and a rehabilitation centre or receiving home care in two Danish municipalities. The outcome variables for oral disease i.e. caries, periodontitis, and gingivitis, and oral hygiene, i.e. plaque and calculus, were assessed using standardised oral examinations. Risk factors for oral diseases and poor oral hygiene were assessed based on a questionnaire concerning (1) background information, (2) health status, (3) social support, (4) oral health behaviours, and (5) self-reported oral health. The associations between oral health and risk factors were investigated using logistic regression analyses.
In general, older people with different living arrangements had quite similarly distributed risk factors. The oral examinations showed that 54.5% had oral diseases, and 14.8% had poor oral hygiene. Not seeing a dentist regularly was significantly associated with having oral diseases (Odds Ratio, 2.87; CI, 1.53-5.39) and poor oral hygiene (OR, 4.50; CI, 1.83-11.05). A significant association was found between the presence of an oral disease and adversely affected quality of life (OR, 2.65; CI, 1.42-4.95), especially due to challenges eating (OR, 3.76; CI, 1.64-8.60) and/or smiling and showing teeth (OR, 3.64; CI, 1.27-10.42). A significant association was also found between poor oral hygiene and taking psychotropic drugs (OR, 2.61; CI, 1.08-6.30).
Questions regarding the use of the dental care system and oral health problems could be used by nondental care staff in conversations with older people to determine their risk of oral diseases and poor oral hygiene.
大量老年人在日常个人护理（包括口腔卫生护理）方面需要他人帮助。养老院和老年护理人员在识别那些易患口腔疾病或患病风险增加的老年人时常常面临挑战。因此，本研究的目的是确定非牙科护理人员可用于识别有口腔疾病和口腔卫生差风险的老年人的风险因素。
在这项横断面研究中，对居住在两家养老院和一个康复中心或在丹麦两个市接受家庭护理的217名需要护理的老年人的口腔健康及口腔健康不良的风险因素进行了测定。使用标准化口腔检查评估口腔疾病（即龋齿、牙周炎和牙龈炎）以及口腔卫生（即牙菌斑和牙结石）的结果变量。基于一份关于（1）背景信息、（2）健康状况、（3）社会支持、（4）口腔健康行为和（5）自我报告的口腔健康的问卷，评估口腔疾病和口腔卫生差的风险因素。使用逻辑回归分析研究口腔健康与风险因素之间的关联。
总体而言，生活安排不同的老年人的风险因素分布颇为相似。口腔检查显示，54.5%的人患有口腔疾病，14.8%的人口腔卫生差。不经常看牙医与患有口腔疾病（优势比，2.87；置信区间，1.53 - 5.39）和口腔卫生差（优势比，4.50；置信区间，1.83 - 11.05）显著相关。发现口腔疾病的存在与生活质量受到不利影响之间存在显著关联（优势比，2.65；置信区间，1.42 - 4.95），尤其是由于进食困难（优势比，3.76；置信区间，1.64 - 8.60）和/或微笑及露齿困难（优势比，3.64；置信区间，1.27 - 10.42）。还发现口腔卫生差与服用精神药物之间存在显著关联（优势比，2.61；置信区间，1.08 - 6.30）。
非牙科护理人员在与老年人交谈时，可以使用有关牙科护理系统使用情况和口腔健康问题的问题来确定他们患口腔疾病和口腔卫生差的风险。
