Abstract
With a view to creating guidelines for the oral care for demented persons, we examined their oral health condition in nursing homes. The sudjects were 179 elderly (48 male and 131 female), to whom it was possible to give an oral examination.
The ages of subjects ranged from 59 to 98 years old (mean age=81.4).
143 (79.9%) were diagnosed as dementia, 44 (30.7%) with mild dernentia, 39 (27.3%) with moderate dementia and 60 (44.0%) with severe dementia.
Compared with the nondernented elderly, the number of functioning teeth was srnall in the demented. Overall, regardless of dementia, their oral condition was very poor.
It is suggested that effective oral care and dental treatment for nursing home residents is necessary.
