Oral Hygiene Practice of Geriatric Patients Attending Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Dental Hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu: A Descriptive Study

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Abstract Background: Increasing disease burden will elevate public health expenditures having an impact on the economy. Literatures confirm a low utilization rate of dental services and a high oral health disease burden among elders which is regarded as a heterogeneous population in India. There is long term existence of high prevalence of oral diseases. Oral health educational intervention is the most cost effective method as it has a positive impact on the oral hygiene status to prevent oral diseases. Successful oral health educational interventions need planning which requires information regarding oral hygiene practices of the population so that appropriate information education and communication content with mention about the pros and cons of the aids which are professionally recommended and those commonly used respectively could be developed to enhance oral health promotion. Aim and Objectives: The aim of the study was to learn the oral hygiene practices among geriatric dental patients in Chennai. Materials and Methods: An interview was conducted for 250 consented patients aged ≥60 years selected on a convenient sampling technique. Results: The results were analyzed using frequencies from the coded data. Conclusion: Majority of the geriatric dental patients were found to be practicing insufficient oral hygiene with aids which are usually not professionally recommended. The reported dental problems of the elders could be attributed to inadequate and improper oral hygiene practices which necessitate transition in the oral health attitude as the need of the hour strategy through urgent comprehensive oral care educational interventions.