Patricia-Anca Steinmassl1, Otto Steinmassl2, Gabriela Kraus3, Herbert Dumfahrt1, Ingrid Grunert1. 1. Department of Dental Prosthetics and Restorative Dentistry, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. 2. Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck. 3. Private practice, Absam, Austria.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: With declining general health, the maintenance of oral health becomes increasingly difficult. Unfortunately, health care resources are limited. An assessment tool for detecting a patient's need for oral health care assistance would promote its adequate distribution. The aim of this study is to evaluate if the Shulman clock-drawing test score is a suitable assessment tool for determining the need for oral hygiene assistance. METHODS: Data collected from recent dental checkups of 126 inhabitants of five Austrian residential care facilities were analyzed. The Shulman clock-drawing test score was used as a measure for cognitive abilities and related to tooth and denture hygiene indices, which were assessed using the approximal space plaque index (API) and the denture plaque index (DPI). RESULTS: Shulman score values were distributed almost evenly in the study population. The mean API was 83.6% (SD 20.2%) for the maxilla and 94.9% (SD 15.6%) for the mandible. The mean DPI was 43.9% (SD 31.4%). Cognitive impairment was not statistically related to the dental or denture hygiene index. CONCLUSIONS: A high Shulman clock-drawing test score indicates the need for oral hygiene assistance, but it is not suitable as a single tool to assess this need. Patients with other disabilities might equally qualify for assistance. Dentures, however, can be cleaned quickly and efficiently independently of patient compliance; therefore, cleaning the patients' dentures should be part of nursing personnel's daily care routine for every patient.
BACKGROUND: With declining general health, the maintenance of oral health becomes increasingly difficult. Unfortunately, health care resources are limited. An assessment tool for detecting a patient's need for oral health care assistance would promote its adequate distribution. The aim of this study is to evaluate if the Shulman clock-drawing test score is a suitable assessment tool for determining the need for oral hygiene assistance. METHODS: Data collected from recent dental checkups of 126 inhabitants of five Austrian residential care facilities were analyzed. The Shulman clock-drawing test score was used as a measure for cognitive abilities and related to tooth and denture hygiene indices, which were assessed using the approximal space plaque index (API) and the denture plaque index (DPI). RESULTS: Shulman score values were distributed almost evenly in the study population. The mean API was 83.6% (SD 20.2%) for the maxilla and 94.9% (SD 15.6%) for the mandible. The mean DPI was 43.9% (SD 31.4%). Cognitive impairment was not statistically related to the dental or denture hygiene index. CONCLUSIONS: A high Shulman clock-drawing test score indicates the need for oral hygiene assistance, but it is not suitable as a single tool to assess this need. Patients with other disabilities might equally qualify for assistance. Dentures, however, can be cleaned quickly and efficiently independently of patient compliance; therefore, cleaning the patients' dentures should be part of nursing personnel's daily care routine for every patient.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cognition disorders; dental care for aged; dental prophylaxis; dentures; oral hygiene; toothbrushing
Authors: Joanna Ryniewicz; Magdalena Orczykowska; Krzysztof Gronkiewicz; Małgorzata Pihut Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-11-15 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Dagmar Schnabl; Michael Oberhofer; Fabian Barbieri; Johannes Laimer; René Steiner; Emanuel Bruckmoser; Ingrid Grunert Journal: Healthcare (Basel) Date: 2021-03-04