DENTAL MANAGEMENT OF ALZHEIMER PATIENTS - A PREDICTIVE TEST OF DENTALCOOPERATION IN INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PLANNING

The aim of the study was to investigate a possible relationship in Alz heimer patients between the stage of dementia, cognitive and functiona l capacity, and behavior as a dental patient. A special index for asse ssing behavior in the dental setting was used. The 40 participants wer e inmates of a nursing home adn fulfilled the criteria for Alzheimer's disease in accordance with DSM-III-R. A deficiency in the dental beha vior index (DBI) of 50% or less did not correlate with cognitive, func tional, or graphic capacity. These subjects were generally aware of ea rlier regular dental treatment and behaved as if dental visits were fa miliar to them, although their cognitive, functional, and graphic capa cities were more impaired than disclosed by the dental behavior index. A deficiency in the dental behavior index of 50% or more was more cor related with the other capacity assessments. Finding a proper treatmen t level for an Alzheimer patient is a delicate task in which it is ess ential to balance awareness of various aspects of impairment and reali stic anticipation of benefit. The dental behavior index can be appropr iate instrument in this complex process.