A model for oral health care for elderly persons in nursing homes with an estimate of the resources needed

Abstract

Abstract

The study proposes a model for oral health care for elderly persons living in nursing homes. It is suggested that the oral health services should take place at the nursing home and should be the responsibility of one dentist and that part of the activities should be performed by a dental hygienist. The goals for the program are to meet the realistic need for treatment, to cover emergency and palliative treatment, and to institute measures to prevent the onset of oral diseases. The realistic need takes into consideration the expressed demand for treatment and the mental and physical state of the elderly. The resources required for the establishment of the program are assessed on the basis of time estimates for the various activities necessary to meet the goals. The annual cost per elderly person will be around DKK 1000 (USD 150). It is concluded that the program would lead to a much needed improvement of oral health care for the nursing home residents at a relatively modest extra expense when compared with the cost of the existing oral health services, which is sporadic and mainly emergency-based.