CARIES PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED PREDISPOSING CONDITIONS IN RECENTLY HOSPITALIZED ELDERLY PERSONS

The prevalence of caries and caries risk factors was studied among 120 consecutively hospitalized elderly persons. Coronal caries was record ed using the WHO criteria, and active and inactive root caries in acco rdance with Fejerskov et al. The CPITN was used to evaluate the period ontal state and plaque accumulation in accordance with Loe & Silness. Of the 1212 teeth examined 5% had active coronal caries (2% inactive), 14% active root caries (2% inactive), and 10% fillings with recurrent caries. No relationship was found between caries prevalence, degree o f dependence, number of medicaments, age, and gender. Patients with ps ychiatric diseases had increased caries prevalence (P < 0.01), and low er caries prevalence was associated with frequent tooth brushing (P < 0.05). At the tooth level root caries was associated with high plaque scores (P < 0.001), degree of gingival recession (P < 0.001), presence of coronal caries (P < 0.001), and increased pocket depth (P < 0.01). The results strongly indicate that oral hygiene measures should be in troduced immediately after hospitalization of these patients.