The dental health of people with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the dental health of community dwelling people with schizophrenia and to compare results with those in the general population.


METHODS
Dental health of 428 people with schizophrenia in six different areas of the UK was assessed by a self-report questionnaire.


RESULTS
Compared with the general population, significantly more of the younger patients were edentate (3-39% vs. 1-20%) and fewer had more than 20 teeth (70% vs. 83%). None of four dental health targets had been achieved in the patient population. More patients had last visited the dentist because of trouble with their teeth; fewer had visited for a check-up. Fewer patients cleaned their teeth daily; this group had more negative symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The dental health of people with schizophrenia is poor. Community mental health teams should encourage them to attend their community dentist regularly.
McCreadie
R G
RG
Department of Clinical Research, Crichton Royal Hospital, Dumfries, UK. robin.mccreadie@nhs.net
Stevens
H
H
Henderson
J
J
Hall
D
D
McCaul
R
R
Filik
R
R
Young
G
G
Sutch
G
G
Kanagaratnam
G
G
Perrington
S
S
McKendrick
J
J
Stephenson
D
D
Burns
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires