Does oral dryness influence quality of life? Current perspectives in elderly dental care

Abstract

Background. The oral condition can functionally, socially and psychologically influence the quality of life. Oral dryness often occurs in the elderly due to the presence of systemic diseases and medications, which favors the development of many lesions and complaints, including dental caries, candidiasis, retention of full removable denture, taste disturbance and it enforces a change in nutrition. Objectives. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of oral dryness on oral health-related quality of life in older subjects. Material and methods. Five hundred subjects of both genders, aged 65 and over (mean 74.4 ±7.4) were involved in the study. Oral dryness was evaluated clinically with use of the Challacombe scale (CODS, Clinical Oral Dryness Score). The oral health-related quality of life was assessed by the Oral Health Impact Profile scale (OHIP-14). Results. Oral dryness occurred in 32.8% of subjects, most often on a mild level (29.6%). The average value of the OHIP-14 scale was 8.01 ±13.59. The regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between oral dryness and two domains of the OHIP-14 scale, i.e. functional limitation (p < 0.01) and psychological disability (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Oral dryness is substantially related to the oral health-related quality of life, which indicates the necessity of monitoring oral dryness as part of routine dental care.

Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in Polish adults with periodontal diseases, oral mucosal diseases and dental caries

“…Depending on the type of disease, its severity and course (active or inactive), the reported symptoms may be more painful for the patient, 39,104 may have a social impact 42 or may reduce the secretion of saliva, as observed in SS, 105 all of which eventually worsen OHRQoL. 39,41 The proper treatment of these complaints may decrease pain and anxiety, and improve OHRQoL. 106,107 In this cross-sectional study, the OHRQoL of the group of patients with oral mucosal diseases was most influenced by their oral mucosal disease.…”

“…Until now, the link between many specific oral disorders, such as caries, [34][35][36][37][38] oral mucosal diseases, [39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47] periodontal diseases, 36,[48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55] tooth wear, 56,57 tooth loss, 58,59 and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) 60,61 , and general diseases, including diabetes, 51,53 rheumatic diseases, 62 leukemia, 63 and renal diseases, 64 and OHRQoL has been thoroughly researched among adults.…”

Salivary aquaporin-3 as a screening biomarker for xerostomia in patients with periodontal disease and the effects of xerostomia on oral health-related quality of life

“…Additionally, as the goal of this study was to exclusively examine xerostomia in systemically healthy adults with periodontal disease, it might have resulted in under-representation of older participants or severe xerostomics because of exclusion criteria. Severity of xerostomia worsens in old age, impairing the quality of life in the elderly [75]. Therefore, it is advised that future research examines xerostomia in individuals from all age ranges.…”

Occurrence of risk factors for oral mucosa candidiasis and their frequency – retrospective analysis

“…Problem kserostomii polekowej dotyczy przede wszystkim osób starszych, szacuje się, że minimum 25-30% osób w wieku ponad 65 lat doświadcza jej objawów. 57 Ze zmniejszonym wydzielaniem śliny w największym stopniu upośledzającą fizjologię jamy ustnej mamy do czynienia u pacjentów cierpiących na zespół Sjögrena. Nosicielstwo Candida w jamie ustnej osób z tym zespołem określono w zakresie 68-100%.…”