Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Evidence showing that common oral diseases can be controlled by good oral and denture hygiene, diet control and fluorides relates mainly to younger age groups or to old age groups among those who live in nursing homes or are in institutional care.With the number of dentate old people on the rise, studies which focus on the effect and appropriate regimens for oral health promotion among older people living at home are warranted.The aim in this thesis was to study the effect of preventive oral health care intervention among community-dwelling older people.In addition, determinants for the need for preventive oral health care were studied as well as factors which associated with oral-self care and oral hygiene and with the participants who preferred the dentist's home visit instead of paying a visit to a dental clinic.This oral health study was part of an intervention study 'Geriatric Multidisciplinary Strategy for the Good Care of the Elderly' (GeMS).The oral health study is based on a random sample of persons aged 75 or older living in Kuopio who resided in community-dwelling and whose oral status was recorded (n=321).For the oral health study, the participants in the parent GeMS study intervention group were further randomized into an oral health intervention group (n=165) and control group (n=156).Data on oral health were obtained in face-to-face interviews and in clinical oral examinations.The study showed that old people had much need for preventive oral health care.Fifty five per cent of the edentulous participants with full dentures and 82% of the dentate subjects required preventive oral health care.The most important non-oral determinants for the need for preventive oral health care were being frail or pre-frail and high morbidity.Oral health improved in both the intervention and the control group during the two-year study, and especially the positive changes in periodontal health can be considered to be clinically substantial.Nevertheless, the changes in health behaviour and oral health between the intervention and control group were quite small and statistically insignificant, and the positive changes in oral health were not possible to attribute solely to oral health intervention.The study also showed that impaired functional ability associated with poor oral hygiene, such as infrequent toothbrushing and toothpaste use and a higher amount of dental plaque teeth.In the case of dentist's home visits, more than every fourth participant preferred home visits by the dentist.This preference associated with impaired cognitive and functional ability and low use of health care services.In conclusion, this study showed that the oral health of old people can be improved by preventive oral health care measures.But, despite preventive intervention, the need for preventive oral health care and the presence of oral diseases remained quite high.These study results emphasize that old people need regular dental care by professionals and possible aid in oral self-care, and that the oral health services need to be brought home.
Author: Kaija Komulainen
Language: English
Subfield: General Dentistry
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: Itä-Suomen Yliopisto, Oulun Yliopisto
OpenAlex ID: W3095270582