Oral health and treatment needs of the long‐term hospitalised elderly

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Abstract
Objectives: To determine the oral health and treatment needs of the long‐term hospitalised elderly.Setting: The Laakso long‐term hospital, Helsinki, Finland.Design: A cross‐sectional study with clinical oral examinations.Subjects: All long‐term patients (n = 260) aged 60 and older.Main outcome measures: Edentulousness, presence and hygiene of dentures, mucosal findings, number of teeth, functioning teeth and tooth remnants, level of dental hygiene, and need for operative treatment.Results: Subjects’ mean age was 83.3 years (SD = 8.1); 42% were edentulous, 45% of women and 33% of men (p = 0.12). With no gender difference, 41% had removable dentures, but one in four were considered to be in need of repair or replacement. Denture hygiene was good in 19%, moderate in 44%, and poor in 37%, and for men worse than for women (p = 0.02). Stomatitis was found in 25%, and angular cheilitis in 28% of the denture wearers. The dentate subjects had on average 12.4 (SD = 8.6) teeth with a clear difference by age (p = 0.03), but no difference by gender. Dental hygiene was considered poor. Of the dentate subjects, 37% were in need of restorations, 51% of periodontal therapy and 42% of extractions.Conclusions: Oral cleanliness should be improved with regards to dentures and teeth. More attention should be focused on dental care of the long‐term hospitalised elderly.

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