The implications of @entity227 in an elderly population in recognizing XXXX and maintaining oral health.

@entity1 @entity717 @entity227 @entity66
The incidence of @entity717 increases in the elderly population. Disability can affect elderly @entity1 's ability to maintain oral health, maintain access to dental care, and accept dental treatment. The oral health of @entity227 @entity1 can be disadvantaged, since they are not in a position to detect and recognize early @entity66 and may be unable to take immediate action unless informed of the situation. The aim of this pilot study was to identify the problems experienced by a @entity227 elderly population regarding the maintenance of oral health and the need to seek treatment. Sixty-two legally blind @entity1 underwent a structured interview and a clinical dental examination. Data are presented descriptively. All the @entity1 would be potentially able to maintain their own adequate oral health level if given the appropriate stimulus. At the time of the study, 53% brushed their own teeth, 39% of whom brushed daily. Of the denture wearers, 58% cleaned them at least once a week. Most of the @entity1 were independent. Eighty-two percent believed that they did not need help to brush their teeth or dentures, even though 85% had never been shown how to brush their teeth. Eighty percent of @entity1 did not realize that regular oral reviews were necessary. Other barriers to regular care included poor health, mobility problems, cost, and fear. Twenty-one percent of the sample had toothache or a denture problem. The professionally assessed treatment need was high in the dentate group, and 32% of denture wearers had denture-related pathology. The professionally assessed treatment need was greater than the @entity227 @entity1 's perceived need for care. The majority of @entity227 elderly were capable of maintaining a reasonable level of oral hygiene by themselves and were aware of their own dental needs but either had no reason to seek care or were unable to access oral health care services. It is important for @entity227 @entity1 to realize that they need supervision to maintain good oral hygiene standards and to ensure the early identification of oral pathology. Also, the barriers to access to oral health services need to be reduced.
