Empowered or disadvantaged Investigating the impact of dentures restrictions on patients with stroke in the intensive care unit

Aim: The rate of denture use increases with aging. Stroke dramatically increases the risk of swallowing impairment, especially in the elderly population. The aim of this study was to investigate the swallowing safety of individuals in the intensive care unit who were not using their own dentures. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with ischemic stroke who scored 24 and above on the Mini Mental State Examination test admitted to Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Training and Research Hospital and monitored in intensive care unit. The severity of stroke, as measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and the clinical classification of stroke using the Bamford Classification were documented. The Acute Stroke Dysphagia Screening, including the 3-ounce water swallowing test, was used to examine the swallowing safety of the individuals. Results: A total of 16 individuals were included in the study. Individuals were divided into 2 groups: those with natural teeth and those who have dentures but are restricted in their use. The groups were similar with respect to stroke severity, stroke classification, age and gender. Considering swallowing safety, individuals who had dentures but were restricted from using them under intensive care conditions exhibited a higher level of success (p=0.041). Conclusions: As a result of this study, it has been shown that individuals who were restricted from wearing prosthesis in intensive care conditions and who continue oral nutrition with foods that do not require chewing are not at risk as much as thought. Restricting the use of denture, including those with palatal coverage, may provide an advantage in terms of swallowing safety due to an increased sensory field.