Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 15, 2025
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Oral Health Among the Elderly: A Cross Sectional study of the PERSIAN Guilan Cohort
Maryam Rabiei1, Amir Ghaderi1, Saba Masoudirad1
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
Introduction:
The oral health of the elderly is a critical component of overall health and well-being, yet it remains an underexplored area, particularly in developing countries. This study aims to assess the oral health among the elderly in the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies of the Iranian Adults (PERSIAN) Guilan Cohort Study (PGCS) population.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted within the PGCS, involving 1985 elderly participants. Data collection included oral examinations to determine the DMFT (Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth) index and an assessment of oral hygiene practices. Demographic, and clinical characteristics were recorded. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 16, and GraphPad Prism version 8.1.0 software, and a significance level of 0.05 was considered.
Results:
The mean age of the participants was 65.05 ± 3.07 years, with a higher proportion of females (53.9%). The average DMFT index was 19.87 ± 9.32. The multivariate linear regression analysis identified several significant predictors of DMFT index, including gender, marital status, education, employment status, socioeconomic status (SES), body mass index (BMI), cigarette smoking, alcohol use, tooth brushing frequency, and the use of dental floss (P < 0.05). 42.2% of the variance in the DMFT index influenced by demographic and clinical characteristics.
Conclusion:
The study highlights the significant impact of age, gender, education, employment, physical activity, substance use, and oral hygiene practices on the oral health of the elderly in the PGCS population, underscoring the urgent need for targeted public health interventions to address modifiable risk factors and improve geriatric oral care in aging societies.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
01:15Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...
01:11Oral Cavity
Teeth: The teeth are the hardest structures in our bodies. Humans have two sets of teeth throughout their lifetime: deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent teeth. Each tooth consists of several parts: the crown (visible part), the root (embedded in the jaw), enamel (hard outer...
01:29Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include:
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
01:21Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or...