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Title: Dental caries in older adults in the last year of life. Author: Chen X, Clark JJ, Preisser JS, Naorungroj S, Shuman SK. Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc; 2013 Aug; 61(8):1345-50. PubMed ID: 23865859. Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To examine dental caries severity (measured by number of carious teeth) in older adults in the last year of life. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study based on dental records. SETTING: Community-based geriatric dental clinic. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand two hundred sixteen individuals aged 65 and older, including 168 individuals in the last year of life (e.g., individuals died within 1 year after their new-patient examinations). MEASUREMENTS: Information on socioeconomic, medical history, medication, functional status, and oral health measures, including number of carious teeth, was abstracted from dental records. End-of-life status was determined using the National Death Index. Propensities of death were calculated using a logistic regression and then adjusted together with mobility and oral care function in the multivariable regression model to examine the effect of end-of-life status on dental caries. RESULTS: Caries severity differed in end-of-life participants with different oral care function. Of those needing help with oral care, end-of-life participants had only a slightly higher and nonstatistically significant risk (7.5 vs 6.1, adjusted incidence density ratio (IDR) = 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.85-1.48) of having more carious teeth than those not in the last year of life. On the other hand, caries severity was lower in end-of-life participants without impaired oral care function (IDR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.30-0.92). CONCLUSION: Oral care function modifies the association between caries severity and end-of-life status. Individuals who could maintain oral hygiene independently had a low level of caries at the end of life, however, dental caries had increased before functionally dependent individuals entered their last year of life.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]