Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Dental attendance, restoration and extractions in adults with intellectual disabilities compared with the general
L M Ward1, S-A Cooper1, P McSkimming2
1Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
Background:
Oral health may be poorer in adults with intellectual disabilities (IDs) who rely on carer support and medications with increased dental risks.
Methods:
Record linkage study of dental outcomes, and associations with anticholinergic (e.g. antipsychotics) and sugar-containing liquid medication, in adults with IDs compared with age-sex-neighbourhood deprivation-matched general population controls.
Results:
A total of 2933/4305 (68.1%) with IDs and 7761/12 915 (60.1%) without IDs attended dental care: odds ratio (OR) = 1.42 [1.32, 1.53]; 1359 (31.6%) with IDs versus 5233 (40.5%) without IDs had restorations: OR = 0.68 [0.63, 0.73]; and 567 (13.2%) with IDs versus 2048 (15.9%) without IDs had dental extractions: OR = 0.80 [0.73, 0.89]. Group differences for attendance were greatest in younger ages, and restoration/extractions differences were greatest in older ages. Adults with IDs were more likely prescribed with anticholinergics (2493 (57.9%) vs. 6235 (48.3%): OR = 1.49 [1.39, 1.59]) and sugar-containing liquids (1641 (38.1%) vs. 2315 (17.9%): OR = 2.89 [2.67, 3.12]).
Conclusion:
Carers support dental appointments, but dentists may be less likely to restore teeth, possibly extracting multiple teeth at individual appointments instead.
