Meeting abstract
LINKAGE OF KNOWLEDGE OF ORAL HYGIENE TO THE DENTAL STATUS OF THE ELDERLY IN POŽEGA-SLAVONIA COUNTY
Marijana Karakatić
orcid.org/0000-0002-5186-5157
; General County Hospital Požega, Osječka 107, Požega, Croatia
Ivana Pajić Matić
orcid.org/0000-0002-5778-6695
; General County Hospital "Dr. J. Benčević" Slavonski Brod , Slavonski Brod, Croatia
Božica Lovrić
orcid.org/0000-0002-2762-6439
; General County Hospital Požega, Osječka 107, Požega, Croatia
Abstract
Introduction: Timely visits to the dentist are extremely important for the preservation of dental health. Given the biological predisposition of teeth decay with age, it is important to act preventively in order to minimize the adverse effects of age on dental health.
Aim: The aim of this study is to establish the correlation between the various factors related to oral health and dental status in older age.
Methods: The data were collected through a survey consisting of 39 questions. The sample consisted of 110 respondents 42.7% of which were men and 57.3% women. The study used the selection criterion of persons over the age of 65. The average age in the sample was 77.35 years (SD = 7.18) ranging from 65 to 97 years of age.
Results: Average age of examinees related to teeth loss is 30,54 years old while examinees are having six healthy teeth in the average. Regarding teeth bridges, more than 70% of examinees are having none of bridge. 12,7% examinees are having one bridge, 13,6% of examinees are having two bridges and 0,9% five bridges. None of examinees have tooth implant, with average number of dental fillings: 0,57. Average age at which examinees are getting dentures is 54,08 years. Examinees who are visiting dentist more often just as those who are cleaning their teeth after each and every meal are showing better dental case.
Conclusion: results of this exploration are insinuating low dental care at the examinees; confirmed by low number of healthy teeth. Knowledge of oral hygiene influences dental case of older persons. It is necessary to organize educations concerned about importance of prompt interventions on level of dental health in earlier life stages with purpose of improving dental case in later life ages.
Keywords
dental status; dental hygiene; the elderly
Hrčak ID:
218594
URI
Publication date:
31.12.2018.
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