Oral hygiene support for patients with schizophrenia: Review

Abstract

Oral hygiene of patients with mental disorders is an issue that needs to be addressed in the fields of mental health and preventive dental care for the disabled, as poor oral hygiene can adversely affect their health. In order to promote oral hygiene support for patients with schizophrenia, the aims of this study were two-fold: (1) to investigate research trends in the study of oral hygiene of patients with schizophrenia by reviewing the domestic and international literature, and (2) to highlight effective support systems and issues that need to be addressed in Japan regarding the oral hygiene of such patients in Japan. It was found that domestic research tends to focus on case reports and results of oral hygiene surveys, while international studies provide results of oral hygiene surveys and outlines of problems particular to schizophrenics. The results of the literature review suggest the need to enhance epidemiologic research about oral hygiene instructions to patients, improve organizational support systems to implement and manage oral hygiene instructions, and examine effective support systems based on Japanese mental health care and welfare systems.