title: The orodental status of a group of elderly in-patients: a preliminary assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a preliminary assessment of the orodental status and dental treatment requirements of a group of elderly in-patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute Care of the Elderly and Stroke Rehabilitation units at teaching hospitals in Merseyside.
  
  
  METHODS
  150 patients aged 58 to 94 years, in which a history could be validated at interview.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire administered by dentist and clinical examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Registration with a dentist, prosthetic status and difficulties with dentures, denture hygiene and identification marking, dental treatment needs and evidence of mucosal pathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 27% of patients claimed registration with a dentist. Three quarters of the patients were edentulous and 66 patients wore full dentures; 18 had no prostheses. Difficulties were experienced by one quarter of patients with upper dentures, compared with a half of lower denture wearers. Of the dentures available for inspection, 61% had removable soft debris, 66% were left out at night and 75% were cleaned by the patient, whilst on the ward. No dentures had evidence of identification marking. Of the 39 partially dentate patients, 75% required interventive dental treatment. Denture stomatitis was diagnosed in 29% of patients and 19 had evidence of benign mucosal pathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The orodental status of this group of elderly in-patients was poor, with a high proportion being edentulous. Few were registered with a dentist and denture hygiene was inadequate. Lack of identification marking is a matter of concern. Closer liaison between hospital staff responsible for elderly in-patients is required, to improve the orodental health and quality of life of this medically compromised group of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Dental Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McNally
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gosney
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Field
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D003778:Dentures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013282:Stomatitis, Denture / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation