[Oral health in institutionalized elderly]

In Denmark, approximately 7% (50,000) of the population above 65 years of age live in nursing homes (NH), where they stay for the rest of their lives, whereas elderly in hospital long-term care (LTC) are institutionalized only for a few months. Numerous studies report generally poor oral health among the institutionalized elderly, and the existing oral health care services are far from satisfactory. Attitudes towards the elderly, transportation problems, age, and dental status are among the variables that have been mentioned as possible determinants for utilization of dental services and for the standard of oral health among the residents. Utilization of health care services, including dental services, depends not only on the characteristics of the consumer, but also on the society and the provider. The planning of dental care for the institutionalized elderly requires information about the need for treatment, the existing possibilities for oral health care, and the institutional staff's attitude towards the elderly and dental care. It is also necessary to take into account the perceived need and the expressed demand for treatment as well as the mental and physical health of each individual in order to estimate what in the present study is defined as the realistic treatment need.