Oral health status and oral treatment needs of dependent elderly people in Christchurch.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the general health, oral health status, and treatment needs of dependent older people living in Christchurch rest homes.


METHODS
210 Grade 3 residents from seven randomly selected care facilities were examined for: dental/denture status, caries, periodontal disease, and oral cleanliness.


RESULTS
Age ranged from 65 to 103 with an average age of 84.6 years. The female-to-male ratio was 3:1. Thirty-two percent of residents were dentate (average 14 teeth). This figure was up from 16-19% one decade ago (p<0.01; chi-squared test). Sixty-five percent of dentate residents had caries. Each dentate person had an average of 2.38 teeth with carious lesions in the root or crown. 51.5% of residents required restorative treatment and 38.2% required an extraction. Twenty residents had at least one 'carious stump'. Eighty-two percent of residents required scaling of the teeth. Two thirds had no natural teeth, and one third of those with dentures required treatment. Eighty-nine residents (42%) were unable to communicate about past dental behaviours.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that (compared to one decade ago) more dependent elderly people are retaining their natural teeth--but they are keeping no more teeth, and the health of the teeth has not improved. Most elderly people do not regularly receive dental assessments or care.
Carter
Gordon
G
Oral Health Centre, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand. gordon.carter@cdhb.govt.nz
Lee
Martin
M
McKelvey
Victoria
V
Sourial
Angelos
A
Halliwell
Rev
R
Livingston
Mary
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004245:DMF Index; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D005850:Geriatric Dentistry; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009909:Oral Health / Q000592:standards*; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000592:standards; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy