General health and oral health status in elderly dental patients in Isparta, Turkey.

The aim of this study was to describe the oral health, general health status and medication use of elderly dental patients 709 voluntary patients, aged 60 years and over, who attended Suleyman Demirel University Faculty of Dentistry for routine dental treatment between March 2008 and April 2009 in Isparta, Turkey, were interviewed for demographic data, systemic diseases, and lists of medications. The majority of the patients (84.4%) had poor oral hygiene according to the Oral Hygiene Index (OHI). The mean level of the study population's decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index score was 19.1 ± 7.3. The prevalence of systemic diseases was high (90%). Women were affected by a significantly higher incidence of systemic diseases than men (96.4% vs. 84.3%; P < 0.001). The percentage of the elderly taking medication regularly was 72.6%. Drug adverse effects were determined in 25.5% of the study population, with more adverse effects observed in women (53.3%) than men (46.7%) (P < 0.001).Dentists must be aware of the dental implications that may arise from systemic diseases and medications and should properly modify elderly patients' treatment accordingly.

General health and oral health status in elderly dental patients in Isparta, Turkey

The aim of this study was to describe the oral health, general health status and medication use of elderly dental patients 709 voluntary patients, aged 60 years and over, who attended Suleyman Demirel University Faculty of Dentistry for routine dental treatment between March 2008 and April 2009 in Isparta, Turkey, were interviewed for demographic data, systemic diseases, and lists of medications. The majority of the patients [84.4%] had poor oral hygiene according to the Oral Hygiene Index [OHI]. The mean level of the study population's decayed, missing, and filled teeth [DMFT] index score was 19.1 +/- 7.3. The prevalence of systemic diseases was high [90%]. Women were affected by a significantly higher incidence of systemic diseases than men [96.4% vs. 84.3%; P < 0.001]. The percentage of the elderly taking medication regularly was 72.6%. Drug adverse effects were determined in 25.5% of the study population, with more adverse effects observed in women [53.3%] than men [46.7%] [P < 0.001]. Dentists must be aware of the dental implications that may arise from systemic diseases and medications and should properly modify elderly patients' treatment accordingly

La présente étude avait pour objectif de décrire la santé bucco-dentaire de patients dentaires âgés, leur état de santé général et leur recours aux médicaments; 709 patients volontaires, âgés de 60 ans et plus, qui avaient consulté à la Faculté de Dentisterie de l'Université de Suleyman Demirel pour des soins dentaires de routine entre mars 2008 et avril 2009 à Isparta, en Turquie, ont été interrogés pour obtenir des données démographiques, ainsi qu'au sujet des maladies systémiques et des listes de médicaments qui les concernaient. La majorité des patients [84,4%] avaient une mauvaise hygiène bucco-dentaire selon l'indice d'hygiène buccale. Le niveau moyen de l'indice CAO [dent cariée, absente ou obturée] de la population étudiée était de 19,1 +/- 7,3. La prévalence des maladies systémiques était élevée [90%]. Les femmes étaient significativement plus affectées par les maladies systémiques que les hommes [96,4% contre 84,3% ; p < 0,001]. Le pourcentage de personnes âgées pregnant des médicaments sur une base régulière était de 72,6%. Les effets secondaires provoqués par les medicaments ont été déterminés pour 25,5% de la population étudiée, avec davantage d'effets secondaires observés chez les femmes [53,3%] que chez les hommes [46,7%] [p <0,001]. Les dentistes doivent avoir connaissance des implications dentaires pouvant être causées par des maladies systémiques et des traitements médicamenteux, et devraient modifier les soins apportés aux personnes âgées en conséquence