Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess the oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) of elderly in care homes, one of Romania’s most vulnerable social categories, to correlate it to sociodemographic, oral health parameters, and prosthodontic status. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was performed on 58 geriatrics divided into 3 age groups, who were clinically examined and answered the oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire. Very high rates of complete edentulism in the oldest-old subgroup (bimaxillary in 64.3%; mandibular in 64.3%; maxillary in 85.7%), and alarming frequencies in the other subgroups (middle-old and youngest-old), statistically significant differences between age groups being determined. The OHIP-14 mean score was 14.5. Although not statistically significant, females had higher OHIP-14 scores, also middle-old with single maxillary arch, single mandibular arch, and bimaxillary complete edentulism, whether they wore dentures or not, but especially those without dental prosthetic treatment in the maxilla. A worse OHRQoL was also observed in wearers of bimaxillary complete dentures, in correlation with periodontal disease-related edentulism, in those with tertiary education degree, and those who came from rural areas. There were no statistically significant correlations of OHRQoL with age, total number of edentulous spaces or edentulous spaces with no prosthetic treatment. In conclusion, despite poor oral health and prosthetic status of the institutionalized elderly around Bucharest, the impact on their wellbeing is comparatively moderate.
Highlights
IntroductionLife expectancy in Romania has doubled, from an average of
The aim of our study was to asses edentulism, dental prosthetic status, and the oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) related to age group according to the aforementioned classification and other factors in elderly institutionalized living in long-care centers in the area of Bucharest, the capital of Romania, in 2021
Regarding the dental care services for those geriatrics, it has to be mentioned that none of the 3 care homes supported internal oral treatments by establishing suitable facilities for dentists, such as providing mobile dental units or treatment rooms located at the residential homes, all of them mentioning the transportation of residents to a dental office, performed mainly in cases of dental emergencies
Summary
Life expectancy in Romania has doubled, from an average of. The increase in life expectancy globally, as well as in Romania, in recent decades [2] has multiple socio-economic implications [3]. Medical needs and requirements for ensuring a high standard and accessibility of health care for the whole society are increasing, but the Romanian medical system finds itself in a permanent crisis, a major “pain” [4] of our society after the fall of communism in Eastern Europe in. Access to and cost coverage of dental services still prove difficult for the vulnerable elderly [5,6], considering the fact that Romania is a country belonging to European Union where dentistry is mainly private. Adult patients in our country, including geriatric
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