P Philip C Rogers E Kruger M Tennant Authors’affiliations: P Philip,E Kruger, M Tennant, The Centre for Rural and Remote Oral Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley,WA, Australia C Rogers, Private Dental Practice, Perth, WA, Australia Correspondence to: E. Kruger The Centre for Rural and Remote Oral Health The University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley 6009 WA Australia Tel.: +61 08 6488 5810 Fax:+61 08 9346 7237 Email:ekruger@crroh.uwa.edu.au Dates: Accepted 13 July 2011 To cite this article Int J Dent Hygiene 10, 2012;122–127 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-5037.2011.00525.x Philip P, Rogers C,Kruger E,Tennant M.Caries experience of institutionalized elderly and its association with dementia and functional status. 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S Caries experience of institutionalized elderly and its association with dementia and functional status Abstract: Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the caries experience of the elderly residing in residential aged care facilities in Perth, Western Australia, and its association with dementia and functional status. Methods: Oral examinations were conducted in a sample of institutionalized aged persons. This study was carried out over a period of 7 years, between 2002 and 2008. Results: A total of 205 residents were examined. The mean decayed, missing and filled teeth index score was 25.9 for all residents. Residents with dementia did not have significantly different levels of caries experience than those without. The mean number of active caries and retained decayed roots, however, was higher among residents with dementia. There was a significant difference in the mean number of active decay and carious retained roots among residents based on their Activities of Daily Living OralHealth score and their status of assistance received with brushing. Conclusion: Caries experience among the institutionalized elderly is associated with disability, and oral care is lacking among the institutionalized elderly in this study. Appropriate preventive measures (as well as interventional activities) should be undertaken to control oral disease among residential aged care residents. Key words: caries; dementia; dentistry; elderly Introduction Oral neglect, as well as poor oral health and oral hygiene, is highly preva- lent among the institutionalized elderly (1, 2). Residents with dementia, who are functionally dependent and cognitively impaired, appearto be worstaffected (3).This is a challenge to the dental profession as the proportion ofrail elderly with dementia and disabilities is projected to rise over the coming decade in most developed countries of the world. In Australia, adults aged above 85 are the fastest growing subgroup of the population (4).Additionally,the rate of edentulism isdeclining;the currentgeneration of elderly has more teeth than previous generations and will live longer than their parents (5). This implies that there will be more dentateelderly with cognitiveand functionalimpairmentin residential aged care facilities. The combination of increased dependency and increased retention of teeth will lead to a high-risk cohortwith complex dental needs and more prone to dental diseases. Residential aged care facilities are residential facilities provided to frail elderly whose care needs are such that they no longer remain in their ORIGINAL ARTICLE 122 Int J Dent Hygiene 10, 2012; 122–127