Oral soft tissue status in an elderly institutionalized population.

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Oral Pathology
• Dental Public Health

Background:

• Oral soft tissue lesions are common in the elderly population.
• Factors such as denture use and ethnic background may influence lesion prevalence.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for targeted oral healthcare interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and patterns of oral soft tissue lesions in elderly individuals of diverse ethnic backgrounds.
• To explore the association between oral lesions, denture status, and masticatory habits.
• To identify ethnic differences in tooth loss and prosthetic rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted on 260 elderly residents in a Jerusalem senior citizen home.
• Oral soft tissue lesions were identified and quantified (totaling 1,037 lesions).
• Data on denture use, masticatory habits, ethnic background, and tooth loss were collected.

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of oral soft tissue lesions was observed (3.98 lesions per patient).
• Significant associations were found between denture use/bare mucosa mastication and specific lesion locations.
• Distinct differences in tooth loss patterns and prosthetic rehabilitation utilization were noted between ethnic groups.

Conclusions:

• Oral soft tissue lesions in the elderly are prevalent and associated with specific oral habits and prosthetic status.
• Ethnic background plays a role in tooth loss patterns and the utilization of dental rehabilitative means.
• Cultural background appears to influence the distribution of oral soft tissue lesions in this elderly population.