[Gerodontic consultation service for hospitalized geriatric patients: diagnosis and therapy (II)]

Katsoulis, Joannis; Huber, Sandra; Zumsteg, Petra; Pazera, Pawel; Mericske-Stern, Regina (2009). [Gerodontic consultation service for hospitalized geriatric patients: diagnosis and therapy (II)]. Schweizerische Monatsschrift für Zahnmedizin, 119(7), pp. 688-94. Bern: Schweizerische Zahnärzte-Gesellschaft

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The aim of the study was to report on oral, dental and prosthetic conditions as well as therapeutic measures for temporarily institutionalized geriatric patients. The patients were referred to the dentist since dental problems were observed by the physicians or reported by the patients themselves. This resulted in a selection among the geriatric patients; but they are considered to be representative for this segment of patients exhibiting typical signs of undertreatment. The main problem was the poor retention of the prosthesis, which was associated to insufficient masticatory function and poor nutrition status. Forty-seven percent of the patients were edentulous or had maximally two radicular rests out of function. Altogether 70% of the maxillary and 51% of the mandibular jaws exhibited no more teeth. Eighty-nine percent of the patients had a removable denture, and it was observed that maxillary dentures were regularly worn in contrast to mandibular dentures. The partially edentate patients had a mean number of ten teeth, significantly more in the manidublar than maxillary jaw. Treatment consisted mainly in the adaptation and repair of dentures, tooth extractions and fillings. Only few appointments (mostly two) were necessary to improve the dental conditions, resulting in low costs. Patients without dentures or no need for denture repair generated the lowest costs. Slightly more visits were necessary for patients with dementia and musculoskeletal problems. The present findings show that regular maintenance care of institutionalized geriatric patients would limit costs in a long-term perspective, improve the oral situation and reduce the need for invasive treatment.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > School of Dental Medicine > Department of Prosthodontics [discontinued] 04 Faculty of Medicine > School of Dental Medicine > Department of Orthodontics 04 Faculty of Medicine > School of Dental Medicine > Division of Fixed Prosthodontics [discontinued]
UniBE Contributor:	Katsoulis, Joannis, Huber, Sandra (B), Pazera, Pawel, Mericske, Regina
Subjects:	600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
ISSN:	0256-2855
Publisher:	Schweizerische Zahnärzte-Gesellschaft
Language:	English
Submitter:	Eveline Carmen Schuler
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 15:11
Last Modified:	29 Mar 2023 23:33
PubMed ID:	19694189
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/31129 (FactScience: 195534)