title: Oral Health Status and Oral Health-related Quality of Life among Hospitalized and Nonhospitalized Geriatric Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to compare the oral health status and its effect on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of hospitalized and nonhospitalized elderly patients in a single community. The null hypothesis for the study states that there is no difference in the oral health status and OHRQoL between hospitalized and nonhospitalized elderly patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted at the King Khalid Hospital and College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A total of 99 (43 - hospitalized and 56 - nonhospitalized) geriatric patients participated in this study. Oral health-related quality of life was estimated using the geriatric oral health assessment index questionnaire. Decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index and plaque index were used to assess the oral health status of the study participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the study participants was 68.2 years; 17.2% were females and 82.8% were males. There was no significant difference between hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients in OHRQoL and DMFT index. However, the oral hygiene status was better among nonhospitalized patients as compared with hospitalized patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a significant difference in the oral hygiene status between hospitalized and nonhospitalized geriatric patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caregivers must be sensitized to the importance of oral health for the elderly population, and oral health should be considered an integral component of general health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, Dental Implant and Osseointegration Research Chair, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Phone: +966504424642 e-mail: drprosth75@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Abdulaziz M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: AlBaker
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, Dental Implant and Osseointegration Research Chair, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Fahad F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: AlBaqami
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, Dental Implant and Osseointegration Research Chair, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Tariq M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: AlHarbi
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, Dental Implant and Osseointegration Research Chair, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: AlAmri
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Jagan K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Baskaradoss
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004245:DMF Index; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Geriatric health service; Oral health; Quality of life Saudi Arabia.