Dental Prosthetic Status and Prosthetic Need of the Institutionalized Elderly Living in Geriatric Homes in Mangalore: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Introduction. To promote oral health among the elderly, we need to know their prosthetic status and prosthetic need. Hence, a survey of prosthetic status and need of elderly inmates of old age homes in Mangalore was done. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study was undertaken, and 133 subjects aged 60 years and above were examined (54.9% males and 45.1% females). Results. Eighty-eight percent of those examined were fully edentulous, and only 12% had complete dentures; none of the study subjects had partial dentures. Prosthetic status was significantly associated with gender (P = .024), while prosthetic need and gender were not significantly associated (P = .395). Conclusions. A high unmet need for prosthetic care existed among the institutionalized elderly surveyed.

Association between dental prosthesis need, nutritional status and quality of life of elderly subjects

“…This study showed a higher number of smokers, either current or past, similar to the study by Goel et al [24]. Prevalence of edentulism was low compared to other studies [25][26][27].…”

Addressing geriatric oral health concerns through national oral health policy in India

“…Shrivastav et al (16) in a study conducted among 117 elderly residents in geriatric homes in Bhopal, reported that 86.3% and 88.0% of the subjects had no prosthesis in the upper and lower arch respectively and only 4.2% had complete dentures. Shenoy et al (17) in a study conducted in geriatric homes in Mangalore, reported that 88% of the 133 subjects were fully edentulous, and only 12% had complete dentures; none of the study subjects had partial dentures. Bijjargi and Chowdhary conducted a study among 1,360 elderly subjects in urban Gulbarga, India.…”

Comment on “Dental Prosthetic Status and Prosthetic Need of the Institutionalized Elderly Living in Geriatric Homes in Mangalore: A Pilot Study”

“…This is in reference to the research article entitled, “ Dental Prosthetic Status and Prosthetic Need of the Institutionalized Elderly Living in Geriatric Homes in Mangalore: A Pilot Study ” published in ISRN Dentistry [1] regarding which we find the following discrepancies in the paper and request publication of an erratum for the benefit of the scientific community.…”

“…As there is a substantial difference in authors' statement “ Eighty-eight percent of those examined were fully edentulous ” and the full-prosthesis need shown in Table  3 to be 46.6% and 41.4% for upper and lower arches, respectively. In fact the figure of “Eight-eight percent” seems to be the finding of “prosthetic status” (Table  2; for individuals having no prosthesis) [1]. …”

“…In Results section (paragraph 2, last three lines) authors state “ significant differences between the genders and the prosthetic status of their upper arches ( χ 2 = 5.105 ; P = 0.024 ) and lower arches ( χ 2 = 5.105 ; P = 0.024)” which is a misrepresentation of the finding which shows “ significant differences between the genders for prosthetic status of their upper arches ( χ 2 = 5.105 ; P = 0.024 ) and lower arches ( χ 2 = 5.105 ; P = 0.024)” [1]. …”