title: The effects of professional oral health care on patients in the subacute stage of emergent neurosurgical disorders.
abstract: This study evaluated the effectiveness of professional oral health care (POHC) on patients who were in the subacute stage of neurosurgical disorders. Forty subjects (26 male, 14 female) with acute cerebrovascular disorders or neurotrauma were randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group (n = 21) received POHC treatment by dental hygienists, and the control group (n = 19) did not. To evaluate the change in oral health status of the subjects, an oral examination was carried out at baseline and four weeks later. For the subjects in the intervention group, periodontal condition, oral hygiene status, and oral function improved statistically significantly. The detection rate for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was statistically significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group. These results suggest that POHC performed by dental hygienists in collaboration with nurses plays an important role in the promotion not only of oral health but also of general health.
authors.affiliation: School of Oral Health Care Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. moriohp@tmd.ac.jp
authors.forename: Chisato
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Chiyoko
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hakuta
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nariai
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Kayoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shinada
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
mesh_terms: D058491:Bacterial Load; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004245:DMF Index; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D003756:Dental Hygienists; D005260:Female; D006209:Halitosis / Q000145:classification; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000502:physiology; D009909:Oral Health; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D010512:Periodontal Index; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology; D014099:Toothbrushing
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C005231:methylmercaptan; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide