Oral health condition of old people in elderly care facility: Focused on natural teeth

Purpose: Demands for long-term elderly care facilities and related welfare services are steadily increasing as the aging tendency of Korean society accelerates. However, oral health assessment and management of elderly in long-term care facilities are insufficient. This study aimed to investigate correlation between natural teeth and oral health status of the elderly in long-term care facilities. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on the elderly patients in long-term care facilities. Two dentists performed dental examination to elderly patients in long-term care facilities, and surveyed their natural teeth condition based on Korea national health and nutrition examination survey. Oral health conditions of patients were also recorded, and statistical analysis was performed between natural teeth condition and oral health status. Results: Xerostomia, temporomandibular joint pain, and limited mouth opening were related with all of the factors about natural teeth. The elderly in long-term care facilities with less natural teeth, less than 20 natural teeth, and edentulous state were proven to have severe xerostomia, temporomandibular joint pain, and limited mouth opening. In addition, poor periodontal condition, oral stomatitis and tongue coating were related with natural teeth condition of the elderly in long-term care facilities. Conclusion: Natural teeth of the elderly long-term care facilities are proven to be significantly related with several diseases of orofacial area in this study. Thus, comprehensive evaluation of natural teeth and oral health management to maintain natural teeth should be actively pursued for the elderly in long-term care facilities.