Evaluation of an Oral Care Program to Improve the Oral Health of Home-Dwelling Older People

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the implementation of an Oral Care Program on home care nurses’ attitudes and knowledge about oral health (care) and the impact on older people’s oral health. A pre–post study, without a control group, was conducted. A preventive Oral Care Program (OCP) was designed, focusing on home care nurses and older people, in collaboration with dental hygienists. Implementation was measured with questionnaires at baseline and after 6 months for home care nurses; for older people, implementation was measured at baseline and after 3 months with the Oral Health Assessment Tool and a questionnaire about oral (self) care between January 2018 and September 2019. Although the study design has limitations, the oral health of older people improved significantly after 3 months and the OCP was most beneficial for people with full dentures. The OCP improved knowledge and attitude of home care nurses. The program fitted well with the daily work routines of home care nurses. Individual-centered care plans for older people, education of home care nurses and the expertise of the dental hygienists have added value in home care nursing. Future implementations should focus on older people with natural teeth.

A importância do cirurgião-dentista como parte da equipe multidisciplinar de saúde no atendimento odontológico domiciliar para idosos

“…Além das particularidades citadas, o envelhecimento também ocasiona aumento da morbidade, e do declínio funcional, que tornam os idosos mais vulneráveis e dependentes de cuidados alheios e quando associados à dificuldade de locomoção corroboram para que tais pessoas não procurem atendimentos ambulatoriais (Santos et al, 2009;Savassi et al, 2018;Marte-Mari Uhlen-Strand et al, 2023;Weening-Verbree et al, 2022). Visando a resolução desses casos surgiu o modelo de assistência domiciliar, proveniente do termo "home care".…”

Dental Health Education on Domiciliary Dental Care (DDC): A Systematic Review

“…Regularly maintaining healthy teeth and visiting the dentist is important to prevent this condition. On the contrary, the number of regular dentist visits decreases with age [4]. Increasing age causes older adults to need transportation assistance (mobility barriers) to facilitate their access to dental care clinics [5].…”

“…Other than that, the lack of visits to the dentist from an early age also causes many children to experience risks to their dental health in their childhood. Unfortunately, not all dental clinics are proactive in offering alternative care systems, such as home care with mobile care units available to all elderly living at home or in nursing homes [4].…”

Oral Care and Removable Dentures for the Elderly

“…U seniorů, kteří trpí demencí je výrazně horší ústní hygiena, ale také větší počet zadržených kořenů a kořenových kazů ve srovnání se seniory bez demence(Delwel et al, 2017). Starší lidé se sníženou funkční schopností mají častěji problémy s ústním zdravím a horší ústní hygienu(Weening- Verbree et al, 2022). Stáří zubní náhrady má nepříznivý vliv na úroveň jejich hygienické péče(Turgut Cankaya et al, 2020).…”

“…Existuje mnoho souvislostí mezi ústním zdravím a celkovým zdravotním stavem. Zánět v dutině ústní může například narušit hladinu HbA1C u pacientů s diabetem; může přispívat k projevům revmatoidní artritidy, podvýživy a aspirační pneumonie(Weening- Verbree et al, 2022). Na sliznicích dutiny ústní se často vyskytují různé afekce a bolestivé ulcerace(Buranarom et al, 2020).Stárnutí je významným rizikem a faktorem pro rozvoj zdravotních potíží a celkový zdravotní stav má širokou interakci se zdravím ústní dutiny.…”