INTERVENTIONS ENHANCING DENTAL HEALTH IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
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Keywords
Dental Health, Cognitive Impairment, Elderly Care, Interventional Studies, Caregiver Training
Abstract
Introduction: Elderly patients with cognitive impairments are at a heightened risk of poor dental health due to various barriers that impede their access to oral care and their ability to maintain proper oral hygiene. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions designed to enhance dental health in this vulnerable population.
Methods A comprehensiveliterature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, using a combination of keywords related to dental health, cognitive impairment, and elderly care. The review was limited to interventional studies and clinical trials published in English. Inclusion criteria were studies on populations aged 65 years and above with diagnosed cognitive impairments that assessed the outcomes of dental health interventions. Studies were excluded if they were observational, reviews, or did not directly measure dental health outcomes. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed on the included studies.
Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing a range of interventions from professional dental care and the use of therapeutic dental products to caregiver training programs. Sample sizes ranged from 30 to 200 participants. Notable findings include a significant reduction in plaque scores and gingival inflammation with a risk ratio of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.59 -0.94), a 40% decrease in dental caries incidence (95% CI: 20-60%), and a 30% improvement in oral hygiene practices (95% CI: 15 -45%) following various interventions. Caregiver training programs were particularly effective, showing a 50% reduction in oral health-related complications (95% CI: 30-70%).
Conclusions: The review highlights the effectiveness of multifaceted interventions in improving dental health among elderly patients with cognitive impairments. These interventions, especially when involving caregiver support, significantly contribute to better oral hygiene, reduced incidence of dental diseases, and overall improved quality of life for this demographic. Future research should focus on optimizing intervention designs and integrating caregiver involvement to enhance outcomes.
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Rahmah Mansour Hattani
Dental Assistant, Riyadh Specialized Dental Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Waad Thain Alenzi
Dental Assistant, Riyadh Specialized Dental Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Nourah Abdullah Alamri
Dental Assistant, Riyadh Specialized Dental Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Amal Lafa Alanzi
Nursing Technician, Riyadh Specialized Dental Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ahood Thamer Alanzi
Nursing Technician, Riyadh Specialized Dental Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Jamelah Aowad Barak Almutairi
Specialist-Nursing, Riyadh Specialized Dental Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Manal Khairallah Alshammari
Nursing Technician, Riyadh Specialized Dental Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Bazah Mosbah Alkhaldi
Nursing Technician, Riyadh Specialized Dental Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.