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Oral Care in Long-Term Care Settings
Book chapter

Oral Care in Long-Term Care Settings

Ronald Ettinger and Leonardo Marchini
Oral Health and Aging, pp.177-199
Springer International Publishing
01/01/2022
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-85993-0_10

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Abstract

The US population is aging, and the number and percentage of older adults is projected to increase. A minority will be unable to maintain independence and, due to social changes, these older adults will need support in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). The majority of these residents will be dentate, and some will require help with daily oral hygiene. Many will have heavily restored dentitions, which are at risk for dental disease and may require complex dental treatments. These dentitions are not receiving appropriate daily care because nurses’ aides are overworked, underpaid, and undereducated with regard to the resident’s oral hygiene needs. This chapter discusses dental delivery systems and describes the advantages and disadvantages of each system. The influence of COVID-19 on dental healthcare in LTCFs is described, as well as the new protocols, which have been developed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection for the residents as well as the caregivers.
Aging Alternative care settings COVID-19 Long-term care Nursing homes Oral health

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