[Oral hygiene in nursing home residents. Impact of an oral health education programme for the nursing personnel on the residents' oral health].

Many studies have shown urgent need in improving oral health hygiene in nursing home residents. Deficits in the knowledge of the personnel in dental and oral hygiene are often cited as one of the causes. Therefore in the spring of 2007 the nursing personnel of three nursing homes attended an oral health education programme. This programme was evaluated by examining the oral and dental health status of the residents, prior to and up to 12 months after the hygiene education. In three nursing homes in the Frankfurt am Main area, the oral health status of 113 residents was examined by a dentist with special education in geriatric dentistry, after receiving informed consent. Mean age was 80+/-9,2 years (49-97 years, 91 women, 40 men). Before, and 4, 8, and 12 months after education of the caregivers, the following data were recorded in the residents: DMF-T index (decayed, missed, filled teeth), plaque index, sulcus bleeding index (SBI), denture hygiene index (DHI), coating of the tongue. Two-thirds of the residents were dependent on caregivers' support for dental care. Initially, in two-thirds of the residents, a high plaque index (PLI>2) and denture hygiene index (DHI>4) was found, in 90% of the residents SBI was > 50%, in 74% of them the tongue was partly or totally coated. In 45% of the residents restorative treatment was required. After the education programme for the personnel, good improvement in oral health of the residents could be stated, with 43% residents exhibiting PLI>2 and 77% showing SBI > 50%. The percentage of clean and well cared for dental prostheses had increased from ca. 30% up to 70%. Within the 4 months 29 of 57 residents with recommendations for dental therapy had been seen by the dentist, 12 months after the first examination, dental therapy had to be recommended to only 19 residents. Education of the nursing staff in nursing homes is effective in improving oral health of the residents. Therefore, all residential homes will be offered regular and free education programmes in oral health for their personnel; this programme will be offered by the chamber of dentists in Hessen, Germany, and the public health services, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.