engleski

Dental health of elderly in retirement homes of two cities in South Croatia-a cross sectional study

Objective – A survey of dental health status was conducted in Dalmatia, Croatia in order to assess the oral health of the elderly population. Participants – There were 274 institutionalised elderly from five nursing homes in Split and Korčula. The mean age of the patients was 80.93&plusmn ; ; ; 7.88. There were 220 (80.29%) female and 54 (19.71%) male subjects. Results – A total of 192 (70.07%) were totally edentulous, and additional 39 (14.23%) were edentulous in one jaw. A significant increase in prevalence of edentulousness with the increasing age was recorded. The mean number of remaining sound teeth, decayed teeth and radices relictae in the elderly decreased with increasing age. Conclusions – Analysis of the results showed poor dental health in this group and the absolute necessity of improving and implementing some special features in the dental health services programs for the institutionalised elderly.

edentulism; elderly; Croatia

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