The Importance of Hospital Dentistry in Improving the Quality of Life of Patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Abstract

As from the admission of patients to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), one must consider the increased risk of opportunistic infections, either stomatological or systemic. Subsequently, the need for pharmacological therapy, particularly antibiotic therapy, hospitalization costs, with possible increase in morbidity and mortality rates are increased. Considering also the post-pandemic period of COVID-19, in which prevention should be projected to the maximum, the aim is to reduce the permanence rate of patients in hospital bed occupation. Hospital Dentistry has been practiced in clinical and surgical hospital environments with the proposal of management and preventive and curative dental conducts to favor the oral health of hospitalized patients. In this perspective, the purpose of this article was to review the role of Hospital Dentistry in reducing the rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia, by the institution of oral hygiene protocols; reduction of antibiotic administration; reduction of morbidity, mortality rates and rates of hospital bed stays; reduction of costs (to the patient and to the hospital); and improvement of quality of life rates.