Variation in oral health parameters between older people with and without mental disorders

This study investigated the variation in the oral examination findings and the subjective oral complaints between older people with and without mental disorders. An interview and an oral investigation were performed in a group of older patients with mental disorders with a mean age of 71.9 years and in a group of older people without mental disease with a mean age of 70.2 years. The analysis did not reveal any statistically significant differences in the dental status of the participants and in the prevalence of oral ulcers and stomatitis. However xerostomia, burning mouth, dysgeusia, and oral malodor complaints were more frequent in patients with mental disorders, whereas general chewing complaints were less frequent. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that psychiatric illness was significantly associated with more complaints of dysgeusia and fewer chewing complaints. The increased prevalence of specific oral complaints in the older patients with mental disorders revealed the significant psychopathological compound of these symptoms.