Original scientific paper
Oral Health Status of Psychiatric In-patients in Serbia and Implications for Their Dental Care
Svetlana Jovanović
; Department of Public Health School of Dentistry, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Srđan D. Milovanović
; Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Medicine University of Belgrade, Belgrade Serbia
Ivanka Gajić
; Department of Public Health School of Dentistry, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Jelena Mandić
; Clinic of Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Milan Latas
; Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Ljiljana Janković
; Clinic of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry University of Belgrade, Belgrade,Serbia
Abstract
Aim To determine oral health status and identify predictors
of oral health in a representative sample of psychiatric
in-patients in Serbia.
Methods The study included 186 psychiatric in-patients
and 186 control participants without psychiatric illness
matched to the study group by age, sex, marital status,
education level, employment, and monthly income. Dental
examinations were done in both groups to measure
the following indices of oral health: decayed, missing,
and filled teeth (DMFT) index; community periodontal index;
and plaque index. Participants were also interviewed
about their dental health behavior and their medical records
were examined.
Results Psychiatric in-patients had higher caries prevalence,
poorer periodontal health, and poorer oral hygiene
than controls. The average DMFT score in the patient group
was 24.4 and 16.1 in the control group (P < 0.001). Periodontal
diseases were significantly more prevalent among
psychiatric in-patients than among controls (P < 0.001). The
average plaque index for patients was 2.78 and 1.40 for
controls (P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated
that 1) DMFT index was associated with age, male
sex, duration of mental illness, use of antidepressants, time
since the last visit to the dentist, and snacking frequency;
2) community periodontal index was associated with male
sex; and 3) plaque index was associated with age, male
sex, education level, employment, monthly income, tooth
brushing technique, and snacking frequency.
Conclusion Psychiatric in-patients in Serbia have poorer
oral health than healthy controls. It is necessary to intensify
preventive dental care in this vulnerable population.
Keywords
epidemiology; prevention; mouth diseases; oral hygiene; mental disorders; psychiatric in-patients
Hrčak ID:
63521
URI
Publication date:
15.10.2010.
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