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Dental health behavior and self-reported dental health problems among hospitalized psychiatric patients in Denmark

The purpose of the present study was to describe dental health behavior and self-reported oral health problems among hospitalized psychiatric patients. Two hundred and forty dentate patients were interviewed with regard to participation in school dental care, dental visiting habits, self-assessment of oral health, dental anxiety, and oral hygiene habits. Dental visiting habits were associated with gender, psychiatric diagnosis, duration of mental disorder, and fear of dental care. Moreover, toothbrushing habits varied with gender, status as inpatient or day-hospital patient, number of admissions, and psychiatric diagnosis. Constant regular dental visits were observed among 31% of the participants, whereas regular toothbrushing was reported by 55%. Compared with reference figures of the general population, these figures reflect a relatively poorer dental health behavior among the study participants. The study underlines the need for specific preventive dental programs, which aim at improving the poor dental health behavior among psychiatric patients.

A cross-sectional study of oral health and oral health-related quality of life among frail elderly persons on admission to a special oral health care programme in Copenhagen City, Denmark.

AIM To describe the oral health and the oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of citizens in Copenhagen City on admission to a specific oral health-care programme for disabled elderly persons. Further, to analyse how various factors influence the oral health and the OHRQoL among these patients. METHODS A cross-sectional study of 189 persons (average 85 years) consecutively admitted to a special oral health-care programme. Clinical data and data from interviews comprising social factors, life-style, dental visit habits, oral hygiene practices and self-perceived oral health were collected. A modified index on perceived dysfunction, discomfort and disability due to oral disorders was used. RESULTS Sixty-eight per cent had natural teeth, among those 57% had decayed teeth and two out of three wore dentures. Smoking habits influence the number of teeth present and the OHRQoL (p < 0.05) of the patients. Edentulousness, decayed teeth, and presence of dentures did not seem to cause OHRQoL problems, while higher OHRQoL scores (more problems) were reported by those with 1-9 teeth and tooth mobility. CONCLUSION OHRQoL of these patients can be increased by removal of loose teeth and provision of dentures to those with very few teeth rather than focus on traditional caries treatment.

Public dental health care program for persons with disability.

The objectives of the study were (1) to describe the organization and content of the Danish public oral health care program for persons with disability, and (2) to analyse possible variations in relation to the goals and requirements set by the health authorities. Data were collected by means of self-administered questionnaires completed by the person responsible locally for the program in each municipality. The response rate was 84%. The following topics were included: (1) Number of persons attending the program, (2) procedure for identification of persons eligible for the program, (3) payment of service, (4) providers of oral health care, (5) special training of staff, 6) dental services delivered, (7) ethical issues, and (8) patient rights. Less than one-third of persons estimated by the health authorities were enrolled in the program. On average, 0.4% of the municipal population attended the program, ranging from 0.03% to 1.53%. In large municipalities, and where internal providers delivered oral health care, relatively more persons were enrolled in the program (p<0.001). Overall, more than 20 categories of personnel were involved in the selection procedure; attitude and lack of knowledge of oral health and oral health care for persons with disability were barriers to equal access to the program. Preventive dental services were the most frequent services delivered, although relatively few oral hygienists were involved in the program. Special training was most frequent in large municipalities. To secure equal access for persons with disability, it is recommended that joint collaboration between smaller municipalities should be made regarding procedures of such programs. Special training of dental personnel and of the staff responsible for selecting persons for the program should be systematically organized at a higher administrative level. The pattern of dental services delivered justifies further involvement of oral hygienists in the program.

A register-based study of variations in services received among dental care attenders

Abstract Objectives. To investigate whether receipt of dental services, among attenders, reflects variations in dental health or whether and to what degree it is associated with socioeconomic status, with irregular or regular dental attendance and with the availability of dentists in residential areas. Materials and methods. This retrospective register-based study followed two Danish cohorts, aged 25 and 40, with a dental examination in 2009 (n = 32,351). The dental service data were registered during 2005–2009. The number of dental examinations, individual preventive services (IPS), tooth extractions, root fillings and composite fillings were analyzed in relation to socioeconomic status, irregular/regular dental attendance, inhabitant/dentist ratio and to DMFT at age 15 (DMFT15) and change in DMFT (ΔDMFT) from age 15 to age 25 and age 40, respectively. Poisson regression and negative binomial regression analyses were used. Results. The variations in number of services received in the study population were small (SD = 0.2–2.7). However, with a few exceptions, high levels of DMFT15 and ΔDMFT were associated with receipt of more dental services. Socioeconomically-privileged individuals received more dental examinations but fewer tooth extractions, root fillings and composite fillings compared to disadvantaged persons, when controlled for dental health levels. Irregular attenders received fewer IPS and composite fillings but had more extractions compared to regular attenders. Conclusions. Variations in dental care services were found to reflect variations in dental health, but the variations were also related to individual socioeconomic status, residential area and dental attendance patterns.

Faglige udfordringer for fremtidens tandpleje, set i et samfundsodontologisk perspektiv

Published in: Aktuel Nordisk Odontologi DOI: 10.18261/ISSN.2058-7538-2016-01-02 Publication date: 2017 Document version Også kaldet Forlagets PDF Document license: Ikke-specificeret Citation for published version (APA): Christensen, L. B., & Hede, B. (2017). Faglige udfordringer for fremtidens tandpleje, set i et samfundsodontologisk perspektiv. Aktuel Nordisk Odontologi, 42, 6-17. https://doi.org/10.18261/ISSN.20587538-2016-01-02