Abstract
This study evaluated the effect of preventive oral health management by dental professionals on institutionalized severely handicapped persons. One hundred and twenty-two handicapped persons underwent examination of their oral status by a dentist every 6 months and also routinely received oral health care by full-time dental hygienists for 8 years. We assessed their oral status before and after intervention and also compared these data with those report of in the Survey of Dental Disease published by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The main results were as follows: 1) The mean number of present teeth per person, the DT-index and the FT-index for subjects at the baseline (year 1993) and the year after intervention (2001) were fewer than those in the national survey (1993 and 1999, respectively). 2) The change in the mean number of present teeth per person, the DT-index and the FT-index after 8 year-intervention was 0.60 decrease, 0.39 decrease and 2.23 increase, respectively. 3) Especially for 30-39-and 40-49-year-olds, the decrement of the DT-index and the increment of the FT-index over 8 years were more than those of the national survey (from 1993 through 1999). 4) The gingival health evaluated by Gingival Index, the plaque and the calculus score using Oral Hygiene Index for the subjects were significantly improved during 8 years at every age group. These findings suggest that periodic preventive oral health care by professionals at an institution for severely handicapped persons effectively improves the oral health of these patients.
