Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2011
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
School of Dentistry
Department
Not Listed
Committee Chair
Christina DeBiase.
Abstract
The oral health of residents living in long-term care facilities is poor. Dental teams and protocols need to be implemented for the facilities to help improve the oral health of the residents. The purpose of this study is to compare a long-term care facility that is implementing a dental team and protocol versus a facility that is not implementing a dental team and protocol. Oral examinations of 30 residents at each facility were conducted at baseline, one month and three month intervals. Data analyses were conducted using descriptive statistics and ANOVA 2x3 using SPSS software, to determine if any significant differences existed between the facilities, time of assessment and implementation of the dental team. Results indicated there is not a statistically significant difference in oral health scores between the two facilities or the time of assessment. Results also indicated there is not a statistically significant interaction between time of assessment and long-term care facility. However, improvements were noticed in the oral health scores of the facility with the dental team. It can be concluded from this study that there is a need for dental teams and oral health protocols, in conjunction with nursing teams, in long-term care facilities to help improve the level of oral health of the residents.
Recommended Citation
Meredith, Stephanie F., "The Effects of a Dental Team and an Oral Health Protocol on the Oral Health of Residents Living in Long-Term Care Facilities" (2011). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 3288.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/3288