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Abstract:
The purpose of the present study was to describe the dental health behavior, oral health and dental treatment needs in a group of chronic, homebound mental patients. 84 patients were interviewed with regard to oral hygiene and utilization of dental services, by means of a standardized questionnaire. Furthermore, 56 patients were examined clinically. About 20% did not brush their teeth regularly. A similar group had not payed regular dental visits for the last 3 years although they were not edentulous. The dental examinations showed an average DMFS of 84.6. One out of four persons were edentulous and 45% of the dentate participants had periodontal pockets deeper than 5 mm. Restorative need was found for 71%, 12% were in need of fillings of more than 15 surfaces, whereas 45% were in need of scaling or advanced periodontal treatment. Finally, 15% exhibited need of their first removable denture. An index for the overall dental treatment need showed that 63% were in great need for dental treatment. The findings indicate significant dental needs in non-institutionalized persons with mental disease. A hospital based dental team combined with mobile primary dental health care are proposed as a possible solution to the dental health problems of deinstitutionalized psychiatry.