Dental treatment needs in Dutch nursing homes offering integrated dental care.

The purpose of this study was to determine the dental treatment needs of the residents in nursing homes (NHs) where integrated dental care has been offered without financial barriers. The dental status and surgical, prosthetic, restorative, and periodontal treatment needs were determined for 432 residents (average age 78.8 years) in three Dutch NHs. Although the subjects had no complaints, 72% had dental treatment needs. It was determined that treatment was necessary for 64% of the edentulous subjects (N = 316), 100% of the partially dentate subjects (N = 76), and 87% of the fully dentate subjects (N = 40). We concluded that when residents can no longer carry out oral hygiene independently, it is very difficult for them to maintain a level of oral health where their dental treatment needs have been met, especially for dentate residents. ©2011 Special Care Dentistry Association and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.