Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: English summary Oral care systems to improve oral care and hygiene in frail older individuals in the nordic countries Nor Tannlegeforen Tid. 2025; 135: 100-6. Background – The fraction of frail older individuals will increase significantly in the years to come in all Nordic countries (NC). Aims – To describe the oral care systems (OCS) for frail older individuals in the different NC, strengths and weaknesses related to this systems and some general activities to improve the oral care. Results – All NC have OCS for frail inhabitants but the individual cost of the OCS differs between the countries. The OCS are in short divided into a) dental professional care and b) help with daily oral hygiene performed by the care staff. The authors suggest 10 initiatives related to a or b or to a and b at the same time, which could improve the level of oral care for our frail older population. Conclusion – There are challenges that reduce the effectiveness of the OCS for frail individuals in all NC. Most important are shortage of both prevention and treatment offered by the dental professionals, most often related to lack of contact between them and the frail older individuals as well as the level and insufficient support in daily oral hygiene by the care staff.
DOI: 10.56373/2025-2-3
Language: English
Subfield: Periodontics
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4407548893