Cognitive impairment is associated with poor oral health in individuals in long-term care.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this work was to study oral hygiene and cognition in patients in long-term care.


METHODS
A representative sample of individuals in long-term care aged 67 years and above, from all 19 countries of Norway, was selected for the study. Trained local dental teams examined 1910 individuals--1358 from institutions and 552 living at home. Oral hygiene was assessed by means of a combined plaque and mucosal score (MPS), and cognition by means of a short version of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-12).


RESULTS
Mean age was 84.2 years and the age range was 67-106 years. Over 70% were cognitively impaired. Cognitive impairment increased with age and was more prevalent in institutionalised individuals compared to those living at home. Poor oral status was more prevalent among individuals with cognitive impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicate that a large proportion of individuals in long-term care in Norway show cognitive impairment. A high proportion of these has a poor oral status. Thus, they carry a high risk of developing dental caries. Obviously, there is a demand for careful and close surveillance of oral hygiene and oral health in individuals in long-term care, and especially of those cognitively impaired.
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway.
Birgitte M
BM
Henriksen
Knut
K
Engedal
Tony
T
Axéll
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003778:Dentures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data