The dental findings in elderly retirement home pensioners

General health, oral status, and personal oral hygiene of institutionalized and non-institutionalized elderly people were compared. Hospitalized patients revealed less favorable results. Of 202 residents of a nursing home (average age 81), most required daily assistance. More than half of these elderly were edentulous, one third were partially edentulous, and only 10% had almost a full complement of teeth. 60% of the edentulous had upper and lower complete dentures. 21% of the partially edentulous had removable partial dentures. Dental hygiene was poor in most cases. In 60 patients, actual dental and prosthodontic treatment was modest when compared to treatment needs. Due to a compromised health status, aged patients often do not receive comprehensive oral rehabilitation. Therefore, professional dental hygiene and daily dental care must be incorporated into nursing home routines, in order to prevent further tooth loss as a result of caries and periodontal disease.