Clinical evaluation of the oral health status in vascular-type dementia patients. A case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the oral health status in patients with vascular dementia (VaD). Moreover, the association of the disease severity and the patients' cognitive and functional impairment with the oral findings have been recorded.


METHODS
The study was directed on the study group (86 VaD patients) and the control group (82 healthy volunteers of the same age) from the IRCSS Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo in Messina, Italy. Cognitive status was evaluated with the MMSE scoring system. Oral parameters, such as decaying, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) index, plaque index (PI), periodontal probing depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were evaluated in all patients. Denture condition and denture-induced stomatitis were also analysed. The frequency of untreated caries, periodontal diseases and missing teeth of the Study Group was significantly higher than in Control Group.


RESULTS
Particularly, VaD patients presented higher number of decayed teeth and deeper periodontal pockets. Decreased cognitive functions in VaD patients have been demonstrated to result in a decline of denture care and increased denture-related mucosal lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
These results underlined that clinicians should direct high attention to oral hygiene of patients with VaD in order to prevent the evolution of those pathologic dental and periodontal conditions, especially in patients with decreased cognitive functions.
Odontostomatology Department, University of Messina School of Dentistry, Messina, Italy - acromarco@yahoo.it.
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Cicciù
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000150:complications*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000209:etiology; D003778:Dentures / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000209:etiology; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000209:etiology; D012648:Self Care; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology