Influence of professional dental hygiene on oral and general health of retirement home residents: A comparative study

OBJECTIVES: The oral status of nursing home residents is poor. This could compromise general health. The controlled study investigated the influence of quarterly professional dental hygiene interventions on oral and general health of elderly. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 152 participants (mean age 84 years) of two residents' homes were examined. Parameters of general health, a questionnaire for caregivers, and oral parameters were evaluated at baseline and after 1 year. All caregivers were given one lesson on oral hygiene at baseline. In one home professional oral hygiene was performed every 3 months. Statistical analyses were done by Chi(2) test for nominal data and t‐test for numeric data. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between both homes regarding general health. Some oral parameters—if any—may be positively influenced by the intervention such as pocket depth, and Denture Hygiene Index and alterations of the mucosa. CONCLUSIONS: A quarterly professional hygiene is not able to influence general health and has—if any—little effect on oral health. This underlines the necessity for frequent interventions. An optimization of the health policy framework is necessary to allow caregivers more time for oral hygiene and to establish the accessibility of frequent professional health care for inhabitants in residents' homes.