Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Using oral quality of life measures in geriatric dentistry
1Dental Service, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Bedford, MA 01730, USA.
Objective:
The purpose of this paper is to present potential uses of existing oral-specific quality of life (OQOL) instruments in geriatric dentistry.
Method:
Selected existing OQOL instruments were reviewed. Three examples of how such instruments have or could be used in geriatric dentistry are presented.
Content Of Review:
Nine OQOL instruments are briefly reviewed. The potential uses in geriatric dentistry include population applications and uses with individuals for political, theoretical and practical reasons. Practical uses include identification of persons needing treatment, assessing oral health needs in populations and estimating resources required to meet those needs, as endpoints in clinical trials and as measures of the impact of care provided.
Conclusions:
The ultimate value of OQOL measures will be measured by their usefulness in improving care of patients. The development of streamlined instruments and a core instrument which can be used in multiple populations and serve as a baseline to which other measures are added is recommended.
Related Concept Videos
Restorative Care
Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
Oral 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...
Teeth
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 and...
Assessment 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:
Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.

