title: Oral hygiene and periodontal disease in Victorian nursing homes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate oral hygiene and periodontal disease in residents of Victoria nursing homes.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The Australian population is ageing with a growing proportion of elderly Australians living in nursing homes. With declining edentulism rates, periodontal disease is becoming more prevalent in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 275 dentate residents from 31 Victorian nursing homes had a questionnaire and clinical examination using the Visual Plaque Index and a modified Community Periodontal Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Self-reported oral hygiene habits of residents were poor, with less than one-third of residents cleaning their teeth twice daily or more. Periodontal health was found to be extremely poor, and the prevalence of 4 mm+ periodontal pockets was 35.6%, with 10.2% having 6 mm+ pockets. Logistic regression found that age, gender, number of teeth present and oral hygiene were all strongly associated with the prevalence of 4 mm+ periodontal pockets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor oral hygiene and the presence of significant plaque and calculus were common findings in this study. Periodontal diseases are a significant problem for residents in nursing homes. Addressing this health issue will require improved training for carers and better access to appropriate dental services.
authors.affiliation: Cooperative Research Centre for Oral Health Sciences, School of Dental Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. m.hopcraft@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Matthew S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hopcraft
authors.forename: Michael V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Julie G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Satur
authors.forename: F A Clive
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Ivan B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Darby
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000453:epidemiology; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000453:epidemiology; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000453:epidemiology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology