Impact of oral health guidance on the tongue-lip motor function of outpatients at a dental hospital

Evaluating the effect of management on patients with oral hypofunction: A longitudinal study

INTRODUCTION

Declining oral function may affect subsequent physical frailty in the older population. The aim of this longitudinal study was to summarise data on patients who underwent functional oral examination and evaluate the impact of management on patients with oral hypofunction (OHF).

METHODS

Dental outpatients aged over 65 years at their initial visit to the Niigata University Hospital received detailed assessment of seven oral function items to diagnose oral hypofunction using diagnostic criteria defined by the Japanese Society of Gerodontology. Patients with OHF at the first assessment received management including oral health guidance for low function and dental treatment. They were re-evaluated approximately 6 months later and the two assessments were compared. According to the results of the second assessment, the patients were divided into two groups: OHF improved and OHF re-diagnosed.

RESULTS

Of the 273 patients who underwent the first assessment, 86 (31.5%) were diagnosed with OHF and received management. Of those, 42 (48.8%) completed the second assessment. Comparing the first and second assessment, significant improvement was observed in oral hygiene, occlusal force, tongue-lip motor function of /pa/, mastication and swallowing. The change in values from the first assessment demonstrated a significant difference between the OHF improved and re-diagnosed groups only in occlusal force.

CONCLUSION

Management for patients with OHF can contribute to the improvement of poor oral function, and an increase in occlusal force was notable in the recovery from OHF.

Regular Oral Health Management Improved Oral Function of Outpatients with Oral Hypofunction in Dental Hospital: A Longitudinal Study

This longitudinal study aimed to clarify the impact of regular oral health management for oral hypofunction on the oral function of older dental outpatients. The 68 participants enrolled in this study were older dental outpatients (mean age 78.5 ± 8.1 years). According to the number of declined oral examinations after the first exam, participants were assigned to the oral hypofunction group (Hypo group, ≥3), receiving regular oral health management with a leaflet at the dental clinic, or the pre-oral hypofunction group (Pre-hypo group, ≤2), which served as a control. At the second oral examination, after approximately 6 months to 1 year, the Hypo group showed significant improvement in the tongue-lip motor function (Oral diadochokinesis, ODK) /pa/, /ta/, and masticatory function, while the Pre-hypo group showed significant worsening in oral hygiene and oral wetness. Temporal changes in ODK /pa/, /ta/, and the number of declined examination items were significantly different between the groups. Multiple analysis revealed that the number of improved oral examination items were associated with presence of regular oral health management after adjusting for age, sex, number of visits, measuring period, and dental treatment. Regular comprehensive oral health management for oral hypofunction improves and maintains oral function among older dental outpatients.