Oral health care for nursing home residents in The Netherlands--a national survey

Abstract

In order to be able to develop adequate oral health care programs for nursing home residents in The Netherlands, currently available arrangements and problems experienced by dentists participating in this field of dentistry were evaluated in a national survey. One questionnaire was mailed to the managements of all nursing homes and a second to all dentists known to be involved in nursing home dentistry. The response rates were very high. The study indicated that, in almost every nursing home, dental care for residents was available, at least in cases of dental emergency. On average the dentists were spending only limited time on nursing home dentistry. The majority of dentists examined or treated the residents only when either the patients or others experienced or discovered an oral health problem. In delivering this kind of care the dentists experienced a lot of problems. These findings suggest that the oral health care for nursing home residents in The Netherlands must be evolved by research, special training of dentists, and through development of special care programs.