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Updated: Feb 26, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Oral Health and the Frail Elderly.
1Dr. Marie-Hélène Lacoste-Ferré, DDS, PhD, Pôle Gériatrie, CHU de Toulouse, Gérontopôle, Toulouse, France , Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Université Toulouse 3 - Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France, lacoste.mh@chu-toulouse.fr.
Frailty is linked to poorer oral health in older adults. The Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) score increased with frailty, and dementia worsened oral status, highlighting a connection between aging, health, and dental well-being.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Oral Health
- Public Health
Background:
- The relationship between oral health and frailty is under-researched.
- Previous studies could not establish a clear link due to design and endpoint variations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) score distribution in frail individuals.
- To explore associations between oral health and factors like age, socioeconomic status, nutrition, and cognitive function in the frail elderly.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional observational study was conducted.
- 1314 patients from a Geriatric Frailty Clinic underwent standardized health, cognitive, and oral health assessments.
Main Results:
- Higher frailty scores correlated with increased OHAT scores (p<0.001).
- Poorer physical performance and dementia were associated with worse oral health.
- Oral health was better in malnourished subjects (p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- This pilot study confirms a link between frailty criteria and oral health status in the elderly.
- Further research is needed to analyze individual OHAT components and their relationship with various demographic and health factors.
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