ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the effect of prolonged hospitalization on the maintenance of dental health and to assess the nursing staff's approach to addressing these concerns. METHODS: A survey questionnaire explored changes in the routine dental care of patients hospitalized for over a month. The involvement of nursing staff in addressing dental care was also evaluated. RESULTS: Fifty adult patients aged 18-89 years (mean age 62.4 ± 20.54 years), 27 (54%) males, completed the survey. During hospitalization (mean 58.59 ± 38.63 days) 26% and 18%, increased consumption of sweets and sugary beverages, between meals, respectively; 26% and 20% of the patients reduced the frequency of tooth brushing in the morning and in the evening, respectively, and 42.2% of them, reduced the quality of their toothbrushing during hospitalization. Nevertheless, 95.9% and 93.9% of them were never instructed during hospitalization to limit their consumption of sweets and sugary beverages and 83.3% and 62.5% of them had never been reminded or offered assistance during hospitalization in performing toothbrushing, respectively. The lower frequency of morning toothbrushing was significantly correlated with a lack of nurses' assistance (p = 0.004). In contrast, 62.6% reported they were reminded every day to shower. Patients in the rehabilitation and geriatrics departments reported a greater need for a brush/toothpaste (p < 0.0001) and assistance in toothbrushing (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged hospitalization leads to significant deterioration in inpatients' dental health maintenance. Raising awareness among nurses regarding their inpatient's oral health maintenance is warranted. Providing patients with toothbrushes, toothpaste and educational materials upon hospitalization is recommended.
ABSTRACT
The medical and dental records were examined for 46 patients with systemic diseases (SD) and 75 patients with developmental disabilities (DD) aged 2-20 years, who had received dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA). Age, gender, decayed missing and filled teeth (dmft/DMFT), dental procedures, duration of GA, and posttreatment hospitalization were recorded. Before treatment, dental disease in the primary teeth was significantly higher among the group with SD (p= 0.04). In the permanent teeth, dental disease was higher among the group with DD, though not significantly. More teeth were restored, (p= 0.015) and total dmft (p= 0.043) was significantly higher among subjects with SD. In the permanent teeth, more extracted and more restored teeth and higher DMFT were noted among subjects with DD, though not significantly. Only pulpectomies were significantly more prevalent among those with DD (p= 0.038). Six subjects needed hospitalization due to their diseases after GA.
