Oral Health Status and Dental Care Needs Among Long-Term Care Facility Residents in Warsaw: A Cross-Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study found poor oral health and limited dental care access among elderly residents in long-term care facilities in Warsaw.

Contribution

The study highlights the urgent need for structured oral health programs and improved dental care access for institutionalized elderly individuals.

Findings

Residents had a median of 22 to 24 missing teeth and poor oral hygiene with up to 100% plaque coverage.

17 residents had active caries and 19 had periodontitis, indicating severe oral health issues.

69% of residents reported difficulties with food intake, and women had significantly more missing teeth than men.

Abstract

What are the main findings?
The results revealed poor oral hygiene among the residents and the mean number of missing teeth ranged from 22 to 24.The residents had limited access to dental care, and a high prevalence of prosthetic treatment needs.

The results revealed poor oral hygiene among the residents and the mean number of missing teeth ranged from 22 to 24.

The residents had limited access to dental care, and a high prevalence of prosthetic treatment needs.

What are the implications of the main findings?
The analysis emphasizes the need for structured oral health prevention programs in long-term care facilities.Results underscore the urgent necessity to improve access to dental services for institutionalized elderly individuals.

The analysis emphasizes the need for structured oral health prevention programs in long-term care facilities.

Results underscore the urgent necessity to improve access to dental services for institutionalized elderly individuals.

Background: Oral health is a key component of general health and quality of life in the elderly. Residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are particularly vulnerable to poor oral health due to multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and dependence on caregivers. Despite increasing awareness of this issue, dental needs in institutionalized populations remain largely unmet. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the dental treatment needs of LTCF residents in Warsaw. The analysis focused on oral health status, oral hygiene practices, difficulties with food intake, and the need for assistance in daily oral and nutritional care. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 29 LTCF residents. Data collection included interviews on hygiene habits and dietary difficulties, followed by clinical examination assessing oral mucosa, dentition, prosthetic status, and plaque coverage (Plaque Index). Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism with Mann–Whitney U, Fisher’s exact, and Spearman’s rank correlation tests. Results: The median number of missing teeth ranged from 22 to 24. Active caries were found in 17 residents and periodontitis in 19. Oral hygiene was poor, with plaque covering up to 100.0% of tooth surfaces. Women had significantly more missing teeth than men (p = 0.0128). Difficulties with food intake were reported by 69.0% of residents. No significant associations were found between oral hygiene products use and dental or prosthetic status. Conclusions: This study revealed severely compromised oral health among LTCF residents. Extensive tooth loss, poor hygiene, and limited access to preventive dental care indicate the need for systematic, on-site oral health programs, caregiver training, and integration of dental services into standard geriatric care.

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