Dental plaque control strategies for the elderly population: A scoping review

To review the scientific literature and identify dental plaque control strategies focussed on elderly people that improve plaque indices.

Scoping review (Joanna Briggs protocol).

Individual search strategies developed for six databases. The selection of the manuscripts in two phases: title and abstract review, and complete review.

Studies on interventions for plaque control in elderly people (60y+). Epidemiological studies and those focussed on caregivers, health professionals and periodontal maintenance therapies were excluded.

The initial search yielded 2803 studies, 26 were included. The results were classified into: exclusively chemical (10), educational (9), exclusively mechanical (6), and combined mechanical and chemical (1). The studies reported different types of interventions: sugarless chewing gum, chlorhexidine (CHX) in different preparations and concentrations, mouthwash based on essential oils, stannous/sodium fluoride dentifrice and lactoferrin/lactoperoxidase tablets. Additionally, conventional and alternative toothbrushes and professional brushing were tested. Educational interventions included oral hygiene guidance, verbal information, and demonstrations of dental and denture cleaning procedures, and lifestyle changes. Many studies have reported strategies that improve dental plaque indices but without statistical significance when compared to control groups. Promising results were found with the use of CHX, sugarless chewing gum, professional brushing and educational strategies with demonstration, but the results were not long-lasting.

The literature reports that mechanical, chemical and educational strategies have some efficacy in dental plaque control in the elderly population. The results should be viewed with caution, considering the type of intervention (isolated or combined) and the maintenance of the results obtained.