title: Oral health of the elderly with Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to describe the oral health of elderly people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty elderly subjects with AD (mild, moderate, and severe) and 30 without AD (controls) were included in the study. Volunteer-reported oral health data were collected using the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Demographic and oral characteristics were assessed, including the number of natural teeth; number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMTF); oral health index (OHI); removable prosthesis conditions; and oral pathologies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GOHAI values were similar for both groups. Compared with the controls, the subjects with AD had a higher age, DMTF, OHI, and number of oral pathologies and a lower educational level and number of natural teeth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly subjects with AD had poorer oral health than those without the disease. Despite the positive self-perception of their oral health, the oral health of subjects with AD tended to decline as their disease progressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giselle Rodrigues
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: José Luiz Riani
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Glaucia Maria Bovi
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ambrosano
authors.forename: Renata Cunha Matheus Rodrigues
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D018441:Biofilms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000150:complications; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000150:complications; D003817:Dentition; D003781:Denture Retention; D003824:Denture, Complete; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D009909:Oral Health; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D012649:Self Concept; D013282:Stomatitis, Denture / Q000150:complications; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000150:complications*