Oral health status of outpatients with mental disorders in a specialist tertiary hospital in Enugu State, Nigeria

Participants exhibited low caries experience due to their motivation to practice self-care, as evidenced by a majority brushing at least once daily without assistance, utilizing a toothbrush and toothpaste, and low alcohol consumption and tobacco use. However, poor oral hygiene persisted, particularly among those with psychotic disorders compared to non-psychotic disorders. This highlights the importance of integrating oral health education, counselling, and routine intraoral examinations in the care of psychiatric patients to prevent the onset or progression of oral diseases in this population.