Removable prosthesis hygiene in elders with Parkinson's disease

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neurology
• Dental Hygiene

Background:

• Parkinson's disease (PD) can affect motor control, potentially impacting the ability of elders to maintain adequate oral prosthesis hygiene.
• Biofilm accumulation on removable prostheses is a common issue, linked to oral health problems and increased risk of infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of verbal instruction and positive reinforcement on improving prosthesis hygiene in elderly individuals with and without Parkinson's disease.
• To quantify changes in biofilm presence on removable prostheses following an intervention protocol.

Main Methods:

• A study involving elders with removable prostheses, divided into Parkinson's disease (PD) and control groups.
• Baseline measurement of prosthesis biofilm, followed by verbal hygiene instructions and positive reinforcement.
• Re-evaluation of biofilm at 7, 14, and 30 days, with repeated instructions and feedback.

Main Results:

• At baseline, participants with PD exhibited significantly higher biofilm on maxillary prostheses compared to controls (p = 0.009).
• After 30 days, no significant difference in biofilm presence was observed between the PD and control groups for either maxillary or mandibular prostheses.
• Both groups demonstrated a reduction in biofilm over time, although the effect on mandibular prostheses in the PD group was delayed (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Verbal instruction combined with positive reinforcement is an effective strategy for enhancing prosthesis hygiene in elderly individuals, including those with Parkinson's disease.
• The intervention successfully mitigated differences in biofilm accumulation between PD patients and controls, indicating its clinical utility.