Oral Health Care among Elderly Patients Attending a Nigerian Teaching Hospital Osadolor O.O.1,*, Otakhoigbogie U.2, Osadolor A.J.3 1Department of Child Dental Health, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria 2Department of Oral Pathology & Oral Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu State 3Central Hospital, Oleh, Delta State, Nigeria *Corresponding Author E-mail: osadolorobehi@yahoo.com
Online published on 24 January, 2020. Abstract Background Ageing is a natural process and should be regarded as a normal or inevitable biological phenomenon. The dental needs of the elderly are changing and growing. The management of elderly patients requires an understanding of the medical and dental aspects of ageing. Objective To determine the pattern of oral treatments among elderly patients attending a teaching hospital in South-east Nigeria. Methodology A retrospective review of the hospital records of elderly patients who attended and received various forms of oral treatment in Dental clinic, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu State, Nigeria from January 2016 to December 2016 was done. Results A total of 82 elderly patients were clinically evaluated and had oral treatments, 39 (47.6%) were males, 43(52.4%) were females giving a male to female ratio of 1: 1.1 The age range of the patients was 61 to 105 years with a mean age of 70.2 ± 8.6 years. Extraction of teeth (51.2%) was the most common treatment received followed by periodontal treatment. P=0.44. Conclusion There is a need for elderly people to visit dentists regularly even in absence of dental problems so that disease initiation can be recognized and prompt dental treatment can be rendered. Top Keywords Elderly, Oral Care, Oral Health. Top |