Comparison of oral and general health development among institutionalized elderly people

This investigation comprises a longitudinal (2 yr) study of development in oral and general health among 100 institutionalized elderly people in Gothenburg. The aim of the study was to photographically document variations in oral health in relation to variation in the general health of these individuals during the period of the project. Changes noted from one examination to the next were limited to a judgment of an "unchanged", "deteriorated", or "improved" status. Medical analyses were based upon information collected from medical charts and the subjective impressions of the care staff, and odontological analyses were based upon photographic screening according to a set of given criteria. Results demonstrated a relation between developments in oral and general health among older people. The strongest relationships were registered between changes on the tongue and general health. The project has shown that a standardized photographic follow-up of health developments in oral tissues can be a valuable aid in cooperative efforts between medical physicians and dentists regarding health supervision of the elderly.