Move of adults with mental retardation from institutions to community-based living: changes in the oral microbiological flora.
In the Western world, the policy of deinstitutionalization and integration of individuals with mental retardation is generally accepted. We tested the hypothesis that de-institutionalization may lead to changes of habits with a potential to influence oral health. When 57 adults with mental retardation moved from an institution to community-based living, their oral hygiene habits, gingival bleeding, and a three-day food record were registered one month before and 9 and 21 months after the move. Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in saliva, P. intermedia/P. nigrescens, P. gingivalis, and A. actinomycetemcomitans in supragingival plaque, and C. albicans on mucous membranes were analyzed. After 21 months of community-based living, fewer persons showed high classes of mutans streptococci, growth of P. intermedia/P. nigrescens, and high frequency of sucrose intake, and more subjects showed growth of C. albicans. In a short perspective, the indicators of oral diseases suggest an unchanged or lower risk of oral diseases after the de-institutionalization of individuals with moderate or severe mental retardation.
Gabre
P
P
Samariterhemmet Hospital Dental Clinic, Public Dental Health Services, Uppsala, Sweden. pia.gabre@samarit.ftv.lul.se
Wikström
M
M
Martinsson
T
T
Gahnberg
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003688:Deinstitutionalization; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D015930:Diet Records; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010512:Periodontal Index; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification