Loesche WJ. Abrams J. Terpenning MS. Bretz WA. Dominguez BL. Grossman NS. Hildebrandt GH. Langmore SE. Lopatin DE. Dental findings in geriatric populations with diverse medical backgrounds. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, & Endodontics. 80(1):43-54, 1995 Jul.
OBJECTIVE. To determine whether there is a difference in the oral/dental health in older persons with different life styles and medical status. STUDY DESIGN. Survey (cross-sectional study) included four groups: (1) subjects (n = 123) living in a residential retirement home or community dwelling; (2) subjects (n = 218) seeking dental treatment at a Veterans Affairs Dental Outpatient Clinic; (3) subjects (n = 132) resident in a VA long-term care facility; and (4) subjects (n = 81) recently admitted to a VA acute care ward with a diagnosis of cerebral vascular accident or other neurologic problem. Each subject answered questions on medical and dental health and dietary preferences in a comprehensive interview. They were given a comprehensive dental examination that included measurements of stimulated salivary flow and minor salivary gland output. RESULTS. The data from groups 2 and 3 confirmed previous reports that independent living subjects have better oral/dental health than dependent living subjects. The data from groups 1 and 4, obtained from geriatric populations on the opposite ends of the medical health/disease continuum provide new information that suggests that good medical health and good oral/dental health are linked. The subjects in group 1 were very healthy as judged by their longevity; 54% were > or = 80 years and they had low reported prevalence of medical disease. Only 6% were edentulous and the dentate persons were missing 4.5 teeth. In contrast, over 50% of the patients in group 4 were < 70 years; they had an edentulous rate of 49% and among the dentate persons had an average 12 missing and 5 decayed teeth. CONCLUSIONS. The medically healthy persons had excellent dental health whereas the sickest persons were either edentulous or had many missing teeth.