Better oral hygiene could save ventilator patients' lives

One of the most frequent complications in patients in hospital intensive care units is pneumonia. Pulmonary Infection in the respiratory therapy affects not only older people but debilitated patients of all ages. In a large U.S. study, recently published in American Journal of Critical Care, researchers have studied the effect of performing extensive oral health with particular suction, cleaning and brushing twice daily on respiratory therapy.

In many cases, it is bacteria from the mouth which cause complications - and thorough oral hygiene may reduce the risk according to the study of lung inflammation and the resulting costs, writes Tandlægebladet.

Read more in Tandlægebladet No. 4 2010 or www.tandlaegebladet.dk

Oral hygiene important for nursing home residents' nutritional status

Oral Care improves the nutritional status of dependent elderly shows a Japanese study.

Good oral care influences on BMI and cholesterol in the elderly

53 nursing home residents were included in the study. It was a group of professional oral care three times a week for a year. A second group served as control.
As the years had elapsed, had subjects in both groups, among others measured their BMI and cholesterol, and the figures were then subsequently compared.

In the oral care group found no decrease in the indicators, while in the control group measured significant decreases over the past year. The authors behind the study concludes that oral care is important for nursing home residents - it helps to maintain good nutritional status.

Read more in Tandlægebladet No. 2 2010 or www.tandlaegebladet.dk

Elderly do not know of home dental care scheme

Home dental care is offered to the elderly and severely disabled, who find it difficult even to report a dental visit. But several hundred elderly people in Aalborg Municipality miss the offer dental care at home because they do not know about the scheme, writes TV2/Nord.

Equipped with a small suitcase dentists dentist can solve most tasks at home, which protects the elderly and severely disabled patients to a troublesome trip out of the home. But according to Aalborg Municipality dentistry is a paucity of making use of the opportunity to get the dentist to give the teeth a check in their own homes.

"We suspect that we could have almost twice as many users in the system, if everyone who is eligible, took the offer," says dentist Birgit Krabsen from dentistry in Aalborg Municipality.

Care Centers can also avail of the scheme so that staff in care centers can concentrate on providing care, rather than having to devote time to accompany the residents individually to the dentist.

Elderly patients with dementia suffer from poor oral hygiene

Dementia causes major changes - also in terms of dental health. Research shows that a clear link between dementia and poor oral hygiene. The medicine they are demented, also helps that they get dry mouth, which gives a much greater risk of caries and fungal infections. Dentists, nurses and caregivers should be much more focus on the elderly who can not maintain a normal life.

Birita Ellefsen who is a dentist, assistant professor, Ph.D. and researcher at the School of Dentistry in Copenhagen, has over the last year examined the relationship between dementia and dental health, and the result is striking. Birita Ellefsens study thus shows that the dementia had an average of 7 cavities, even when they were diagnosed with dementia, which says something about the problems that the demented have with their oral hygiene.

It could mean a significant diminution of the quality of life. The consequence of poor oral hygiene may include be pain or discomfort, which may cause difficulty in eating. At worst it may mean that they completely stop eating. It is therefore important that older people with dementia and their families receive the proper guidance on how to relate to dental care when they are diagnosed, emphasizes Birita Ellefsen.

- Dementia patients need a customized dental care. And here dentists the opportunity to make a difference and help to ensure that newly diagnosed dementia patients receive the prevention, care and attention they need. We have a responsibility as health professionals to help cover the care and treatment needs that just in the elderly with dementia, says the invitation from Birita Ellefsen.

Birita Ellefsen is among speakers at the Dental Association's two-day Symposium on 6-7th November. Slightly more than 1,600 dentists and 600 dental assistants participating in the event that has the medical compromised patients as the main theme and takes place in Aarhus, the Radisson SAS Scandinavia Hotel.

- It is always good to get updated - and expanded - its professional knowledge and skills, and of course also applies to dentists. Both for the individual dentist's challenges and everyday life, but also very much aimed at patients. That dentists retraining and follows up with the latest treatments and developments in dentistry, patients come into the chair for the benefit, says Dental Association President Susanne Andersen.