Current Denture Loss in Geriatric Facilities

The prevalence of denture loss within community residential settings

Introduction Denture loss prevalence in community settings is unknown and results in deteriorating residents' systemic and psychosocial wellbeing.Materials and methods An electronic survey was distributed nationally through professional networks to community residential settings.Results Of the 156 responses from community residential settings, 69% of settings experienced at least one denture lost in the last two years. Sixty percent of responders reported no dentures were labelled, only 64% had received training about how to care for dentures and 86% felt they would benefit from further training on mouth care. In addition, 68% of staff found arranging dental care for their residents challenging.Discussion Extrapolated data suggest that at least 10,205 dentures are lost annually in community residential settings and are never found, costing the NHS Business Service Authority more than £3 million. A high prevalence of denture loss in community residential settings is likely due to residents with multiple comorbidities and frailty. Remaking dentures poses financial, logistical, and patient challenges, which may result in patients being unable to wear a remade denture.Conclusion The prevalence of denture loss within community residential settings needs to be understood to encourage targeted interventions, inform stakeholders, and encourage workflows that will improve service delivery and patients' oral health-related quality of life.

Relationship between the jaw-closing force and dietary form in older adults without occlusal support requiring nursing care

In clinical practice, we encounter cases wherein older adults lacking occlusal support consume foods requiring mastication and adequate swallowing function. This study investigated the relationship between jaw-closing force (JCF) and dietary form in older adults without occlusal support requiring nursing care. This prospective cross-sectional study included 123 older adults requiring nursing care who lost their molar occlusal support and consumed food orally without dentures. JCF was defined as the force required for crushing food with the edentulous ridges or with the tooth and edentulous ridge while closing the mouth. Participants were classified into four groups based on the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative framework for recommended dietary forms. Basic information was collected, and tongue pressure and JCF were measured. Differences in JCF were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, while factors related to dietary form were evaluated using ordinal logistic regression analysis. Significant differences in JCF were observed among the four groups. Factors such as the Barthel Index, tongue pressure, and JCF were dietary form-related. Our findings suggest that older adults requiring nursing care tend to have higher JCF when consuming meals requiring mastication. Therefore, JCF could serve as an index for determining appropriate dietary forms in this population.