Oral health status of elderly hospitalised psychiatric patients

This study investigated the oral health status of an elderly mentally ill population hospitalised in a psychogeriatric ward in Athens.

A structured interview recorded sociodemographic and dental data, and an oral examination recorded the status of oral tissues and the existing dentures. The patients' medical records were examined by a hospital's physician.

One hundred and eleven patients with a mean age of 73 years participated in the study. Almost half of them suffered from schizophrenia. Forty percent were completely edentulous but only 38.6% of them used a pair of dentures. The dentate had an average of 12.9 teeth, 50.7% of them had at least one decayed tooth, 44.8% needed at least one extraction, and only 26.7% had filled teeth. The dental hygiene was poor in 83.6% of the patients. More than 60% of the dentures had a defect. Multiple regression analyses showed that increasing age and dementia were significantly related to fewer remaining teeth, and the use of atypical antipsychotics was related to fewer caried teeth.

The oral health of the elderly psychiatric patients was very poor. Access to dental care should improve, and the health care staff should be trained to identify oral problems.