Oral Hygiene Care for Elderly in Care Facility

Ko,  Sok-Min; Lim,  Soon-Ryun

J Korean Dent Assoc > Volume 53(10); 2015 > Article

The Journal of The Korean Dental Association 2015;53(10):678-687.
Published online October 31, 2015.

노인요양시설에서의 구강위생관리

고석민¹, 임순연²

^¹영통베스트덴치과
^²남서울대학교 치위생학과

Oral Hygiene Care for Elderly in Care Facility

Sok-Min Ko¹, Soon-Ryun Lim²

¹Yeongtong Bestden Dental Clinic
²Department of Dental Hygiene, Namseoul University

Abstract

In order to prevent aspiration pneumonia, oral hygiene care is important; thus proper tips for oral hygiene care should be distributed among hospitals and care facilities for elderly. Malpractice of oral hygiene itself may cause aspiration pneumonia. For efficient and effective oral hygiene care, engagement of professionals such as dentists or dental hygienists is essential. At the point where necessity of systemized dental professionals°phi involvement at care facilities for elderly is being emerged, it is important to determine less risky approaches for oral health care tailored to elderly. Among many approaches, oral health care practice without usage of water is considered safe, reducing risk of possibility of aspiration. Since this practice is quite easy to implement, many dental professionals may utilize it when practiced at care facilities for elderly.

Key Words: Aspiration pneumonia;Care facility;Elderly;Oral hygiene care;