Bio-Psycho-Social Oral Health Features in 2 Long-Term Care Facilities in Western Switzerland

Abstract

Background: The objectives of this exploratory study are to screen oral conditions of residents living in two longterm facilities (LTCF’s) in the canton of Vaud, West Switzerland, and to assess the impact of oral health status of the patients on their quality of life and nutritional balance. Results: Eighty-two patients accepted to participate in this study. After mental and dexterity examination, 39 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria conditions. The mean Deciduous Missing Filled Teeth value (DMFT) at baseline was 30.7 (SD 2.6). Ninety five percent of the residents wore removable dentures. Denture hygiene was considered poor or very poor in nearly one third of the residents. Wearing dentures at night was a common feature among the residents. Mean Oral Health Impact Profile-14 score at baseline was 4 (SD 5) and 4 (SD 5.4) at 6 months evaluation. After paired sample t-test, there were no statistically significant differences between the two evaluations. Several basic foods were reported as, at least, difficult to eat. Conclusions: Within its limits, this study shows that the oral status of patients living in the 2 reported LTCF’s is poor. High scores of missing and decayed teeth are reported. Most of the residents are partially or fully edentulous, wearing removable dentures. There is a lack of denture hygiene in an important proportion of the residents. Several patients report important problems in their selection of food. Paradoxically, oral health related quality of life is high, maybe related to a high resilience in this oldest population.