Original Article
Oral Health Services in Long-term Care Facilities Between 1989 and 2003—Has Germany Seen any Progress?

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijge.2011.04.014Get rights and content
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Summary

Background

In view of the growing number of people requiring long-term nursing care the problem of dental care in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) remains an open issue. The aim of this study was to find out whether and how dental care in LTCF has changed over a period of 14 years.

Methods

Data on the standard of dental care provided in LTCF in Berlin collected from directors of these homes in 1989 (n = 85) and 2003 (n = 54) were compared.

Results

In 1989, 72% and in 2003, 66% of the elderly residents being newly admitted did not receive a dental entrance examination. In 2003, one nursing service requested prior dental hygienic measures as a requirement for admittance, whereas in 1989, this was not required by a single nursing center (p = 0.125). In 1989, a dentist was available on call in 16% of LTCF increasing to 78% in 2003 (p = 0.000). In 1989, yearly and half-yearly dental examinations were carried out in 11% of LTCF increasing to 28% (p = 0.000) in 2003. No routine dental examinations were performed in 31% (1989) and in 39% (2003) of LTCF. In 1989, 27% of the respondents classified dental care as being good; in 2003, one-half of the surveyed home directors expressed this opinion (p = 0.0018).

Conclusion

In spite of some parameter having improved, the study shows that dental care in LTCF continues to be deficient and that awareness of directors of the homes, as a necessary prerequisite for any improvement, is still lacking.

Keywords

dental care for aged
health services research
nursing homes
quality of health care
vulnerable populations

Cited by (0)

All contributing authors declare no conflict of interest.