Dental Prosthetic Status and Prosthetic Need of the Institutionalized Elderly Living in Geriatric Homes in Mangalore: A Pilot Study. (7th October 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shenoy, Rekha P.; Hegde, Vijaya
• Other Names: Kok S.-H. Academic Editor.; Ylöstalo P. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: ISRN dentistry. Volume 2011(2011)
• Publication Date: 2010-10-07
• Subjects: Dentistry -- Periodicals; 617.6
• DOI: 10.5402/2011/987126
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-4371

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction . To promote oral health among the elderly, we need to know their prosthetic status and prosthetic need. Hence, a survey of prosthetic status and need of elderly inmates of old age homes in Mangalore was done. Materials and Methods . A cross-sectional study was undertaken, and 133 subjects aged 60 years and above were examined (54.9% males and 45.1% females). Results . Eighty-eight percent of those examined were fully edentulous, and only 12% had complete dentures; none of the study subjects had partial dentures. Prosthetic status was significantly associated with gender (P = .024 ), while prosthetic need and gender were not significantly associated (P = .395 ). Conclusions . A high unmet need for prosthetic care existed among the institutionalized elderly surveyed.