title: [Do long-term care residents benefit from the dental bonus system?].
abstract: Oral health of long-term care (LTC) residents is often poor. From 30 random German LTC facilities, 242 random residents (Berlin n=75, Northrhine-Westfalia (NRW) n=94, Saxony n=73) (median age: 82 years, female: 78.5%) were interviewed as to their use of dental services, possession of a bonus booklet (BB), and completeness of records. Only 18.6% possessed a BB. Significant regional differences were observed (Berlin=5.3%, NRW=18.1%, Saxony=32.9%) (χ(2) test p<0.01). The number of teeth was higher (Mann-Whitney test p=0.01) and the time since last dental visit shorter (p<0.01) for all residents with a BB. Only 18.6% of people possessing a BB declared not having had a dental appointment within the previous 12 months (LTC residents without BB 51.3%). As a means towards improved quality management in nursing, better oral infection control of residents and increased oral health and general quality of life, the introduction of a regular annual preventive dental screening program including the use of a dental bonus system are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Alters- und Behindertenzahnmedizin, Zentrum für Zahn-, Mund- und Kieferheilkunde, Universität Zürich, Plattenstrasse 11, Zürich, Switzerland. ina.nitschke@zzm.uzh.ch
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nitschke
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bär
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hopfenmüller
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roggendorf
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sobotta
authors.forename: Th
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reiber
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*