[The oral hygiene, dental health and prosthetic care of old age home pensioners and geriatric patients. A study at the Adullam Foundation in Basel].

To determine the current state of oral hygiene, dental health and prosthetic appliances among residents of nursing homes and geriatric hospitals, 100 nursing home residents and 53 hospital patients with an average age of 82 were interviewed and examined in the Adullam Foundation in Basle. Only about 30% of those questioned expressed problems related to chewing, and only about 15% were dissatisfied with their dentures. Hardly any material other than toothbrush and toothpaste was used for dental hygiene. Only 38% of the nursing home residents and as few as 15% of the hospital patients brushed their teeth three times daily. A good 46% of the nursing home residents still possessed at least one original tooth. The incidence of plaque was categorized as high. In more than 86% of the cases, flaws were determined in removable prosthetics. Dental treatment was considered immediately necessary in 2% of the cases and necessary in 41%. In order to improve oral hygiene and dental care among aged nursing home residents in Switzerland, a list of suggestions has been compiled.