Oral health of psychiatric in-patients

AIM AND METHOD The aim of the study was to get an estimate of oral health needs of in-patients on acute general adult wards in an inner-city psychiatric unit. Information was collected by means of a cross-sectional survey with patient interviews and a brief oral examination. RESULTS A significant majority of patients had carious teeth, inflammation of gums and oral plaque. A majority of patients complained of pain during the preceding 3 months and problems with teeth. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Oral health of patients admitted to an acute psychiatric unit is worse than compared to the general population. There appears to be a need for basic dental health education and easy access to dental care on psychiatric wards.

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