Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 10, 2026
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Oral Health Problems in Individuals Living With Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders
Sherri L LaVela1, Rena Steiger-Chadwick2, Brian Bartle2
1Department of Veterans Affairs, Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare (CINCCH), Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
Objective:
To identify factors associated with oral health problems in individuals with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D).
Design:
Cross-sectional survey conducted in 2024-2025.
Setting/Participants:
Veterans and civilians with SCI/D from Veterans Health Administration and private sector organizations.
Interventions:
N/A MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Oral health problems, chronic conditions, secondary complications, and psychosocial health.
Results:
The sample (n=370) had a mean age of 58 years (18-91y; SD, 15); 71% were men, 57% had paraplegia, and the mean injury duration was 12 years (1-64y; SD, 13). Oral health problems were reported by 26%. Unadjusted analyses showed that a greater proportion of those with oral health problems (vs those without) were not employed (92% vs 83%; P=.04) and lived alone (30% vs 18%; P=.02), and had a higher age at injury onset (50y vs 44y; P=.01), sleep problems (62% vs 49%; P=.04), high blood pressure (49% vs 37%; P=.04), heart problems (16% vs 8%; P=.04), musculoskeletal pain (88% vs 83%; P=.004), and respiratory problems (46% vs 26%; P=.0004). A greater proportion with oral health problems experienced depression (58% vs 37%; P=.0005), anxiety (53% vs 36%; P=.003), frequent mental distress (37% vs 24%; P=.01), posttraumatic stress (41% vs 34%; P=.002), and loneliness (32% vs 22%; P=.05). Multivariable regression showed that variables independently associated with oral health problems included living alone (odds ratio [OR], 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-4.5; P=.03), musculoskeletal pain (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.1-6.7; P=.03), and respiratory conditions (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1 - 4.5; P=.04).
Conclusions:
Oral health problems were more common among people who lived alone and had physical and psychosocial health concerns. Future studies should identify barriers to oral health in this population, especially for those who live alone and experience musculoskeletal pain, as each of these may contribute to oral hygiene difficulties and challenges accessing preventive services. Given the compromised respiratory function in many people with SCI/D, efforts to alleviate oral health problems that could be contributing to respiratory conditions should be addressed.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Disorders of the Nervous Tissue
Homeostatic Imbalances:
Alzheimer's disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities, attributed to the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Parkinson's disease arises from the...
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...
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...
01:15Teeth
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...
01:17Other Pulmonary Disorders
01:30Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...