2025 Volume 46 Issue 2 Pages 145-152
Introduction：In Japan, reports of oral health management in residential disability support facilities without routine dental interventions are limited. It is essential to understand the oral conditions of residents in such facilities. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between oral health management and duration of stay in a residential disability support facility in Sapporo city.
Materials and Methods：This study included 27 residents of a residential disability support facility, which was established in 1993, in Sapporo city. Demographic and clinical data were collected from July 2023 to December 2024. The facility had not previously received routine dental interventions from specific dental clinics. Participants were classified into two groups based on duration of stay：≥11 years and ≤10 years. Key variables included the number of remaining teeth, periodontal status, and the time since the last dental attendance.
Results：Eleven residents （41％） were male, and their median age was 71 ［61-73］ years old. The median duration of stay was 30 ［29-30］ years, with a median age at admission of 44 ［39-56］ years old. The median number of remaining teeth was 20 ［14-24］, and 15 residents （56％） had severe periodontitis. The median time since the last dental attendance was 28 ［5-29］ years. Residents in the longer-stay group （≥11 years） had fewer remaining teeth （17 ［9-21］ vs. 25 ［24-29］, p＜0.01）, were older （71 ［68-75］ vs. 56 ［46-73］ years old, p＝0.03）, and had a longer duration since their last dental attendance （28 ［18-29］ vs. 4 ［3-5］ years, p＜0.01） than those in the shorter-stay group （≤10 years）.
Discussion：These findings suggest that the longer the duration of stay, the more insufficient oral health management tends to be. The study underscores the importance of strengthening social support systems and introducing appropriate dental interventions in residential disability support facilities to improve oral health management.
