title: Oral hygiene care status of elderly with dementia and in residential aged care facilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effectiveness of oral hygiene care on plaque and gingival status of residents with dementia.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Oral hygiene and oral hygiene care has been reported to be poor among the institutionalised elderly with dementia. The severity of oral diseases has been shown to increase with the severity of physical and cognitive impairment related with dementia. Little research has been carried out on plaque and gingival status of elderly with dementia and the impact of disability related with dementia on oral health in residential aged care facilities (RACF).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of 205 elderly residing in RACF in Perth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one percent of the residents in RACF had dementia. Sixty percent of the residents with dementia and 75% of the residents with an Activities of Daily Living Oral Health score of D were assisted with oral care. Mean plaques scores and extent of gingival inflammation were higher for residents in the DD and D subgroups and resident with dementia. Residents assisted with brushing had higher mean plaque score and more moderate gingival inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral hygiene care status in residents with dementia was poor despite the fact that oral care assistance was being provided.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Rural and Remote Oral Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Philcy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Philip
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Estie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tennant
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000145:classification*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000145:classification*; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010512:Periodontal Index; D014099:Toothbrushing; D014904:Western Australia