Oral health assessment of elderly people living in the Arkhangelsk region, Russia
This thesis analyses the oral health of elderly people living in Arkhangelsk, Russia. Complex oral health assessment includes objective, standardized dental tests and indices recommended by WHO. The aim of the study was to determine the alterations in dental, periodontal, salivary, glossal and immun...
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| Format: | Dissertation |
| Language: | English |
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University of Oulu
2016
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| Online Access: | http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-201612163299 http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:fi:oulu-201612163299 |
| Summary: | This thesis analyses the oral health of elderly people living in Arkhangelsk, Russia. Complex oral health assessment includes objective, standardized dental tests and indices recommended by WHO. The aim of the study was to determine the alterations in dental, periodontal, salivary, glossal and immune status of oral health in elderly persons, the influence of possible unhealthy habits on the health of oral cavity and to compare these indicators with literary sources. The research focuses on elderly people older than 60 years old, who reside in a home for the elderly in Arkhangelsk. Modern world social and health tendencies dictate the necessity of ongoing research of the aging population problem. Aging is a natural phenomenon and an inevitable process but when the number of old-aged people exceeds the number of working-age population it causes serious modifications in health care, economics, social support and so forth. The socio-demographic situation in the Arkhangelsk region is characterized by a considerable increase in the number of retirement age people who suffer from severe somatic disorders. Organs and tissues of the mouth do not represent an exception, so the elderly experience serious problems with their oral health as well. The hypothesis of the study has proved to be mostly true: our conclusion is that the young-old and the old demonstrate poor oral health. We have observed 100% prevalence of caries and decayed, missed, filled teeth index (DMFT) = 24,5 with predominance of missing teeth; the level of hygiene equals to 3,4; poor condition of dentures; high prevalence of periodontal diseases and oral mucosa lesions; low salivary flow rate (0,08 ml/min) and pH (6,0), high saliva viscosity and deterioration of the oral immunity indicators such as interleukin-8 (IL-8), immunoglobulin G (IgG), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and cortisol. This study may be used to formulate recommendations for the elderly, social workers and health management bodies to improve the oral wellbeing of this group of people. The data received during this study can be also be of use for other countries of the Barents region in two similar respects: dental features of the aging population and the influence of living conditions in the North on oral health. |
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