Delivery of mobile dental services to dependent elderly people: results from a pilot study in rural Switzerland

Abstract

The objective of this pilot study was to provide data on the oral health status and oral health behaviour of care-dependent elderly people in the canton of Uri. The study aimed at assessing whether age and duration of living in a nursing home is associated with dental attendance, whether there is a relationship between age and the DMF-T index, and how high the risk was for participants to develop oral health problems.
The study offered mobile dental services to people residing in nursing homes (NHG) and to community dwellers (CDG). Data was collected on demographics, medical history, presence of pain, ability to eat and oral health behaviour by means of a questionnaire. A clinical examination was per- formed and data on the oral status was collected. Statistical methods were: median tests, linear regressions and descriptive statistics.
Uptake of the programme was low. 56 participants were examined. 47 participants (24 females, 23 males, average age 86.3 ± 7.36 years) resided in nursing home, 9 participants (7 females,2 males, average age 76 ± 12.8 years) were com- munity dwellers. No significant differences were found between frequency of dental attendance and age (p = 0.35) or duration of stay in a nursing home (p = 0.55). The number of decayed teeth
(p = 0.005), missing teeth (p = 0.01), and the DMF-T index (average in NHG = 26.5, CDG = 20.2,p < 0.001) increased, the number of filled teeth (p = 0.02) decreased as age increased. Upon calculation of the Teamwerk index, which takes into account oral health behaviour, dental caries, and periodontal status, the majority of participants had a medium risk of developing oral health problems.Our pilot study in rural Switzerland provides first results of the oral health status in dependent elderly people. As people age, oral health deteriorates. More attention should be given to oral hygiene maintenance and more regular dental visits, to ensure a better oral health status in dependent elderly people.