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Objectives: To pilot an exploration of older adults' future preferences using discrete choice experiments to understand who should provide dental examinations and treatment, where these services should be provided, and participants' willingness to pay and willingness to travel. Background: The proportion of older adults in the general population is increasing and is recognised as a pressing public health challenge. Materials and Methods: Older people aged 65 years and over were recruited into this study from the UK, Switzerland and Greece. Drawing on earlier stakeholder engagement, a set of choice experiments are developed to explore the future preferences of older people for dental examinations and dental treatment, as they anticipated losing their independence. These were presented to the participants using a range of platforms, because of the COVID pandemic. Data were analysed in STATA using a random‐effects logit model. Results: Two hundred and forty‐six participants (median age 70 years) completed the pilot study. There was a strong preference across all countries for a dentist to undertake a dental examination (Greece: β = 0.944, Switzerland: β = 0.260, UK β = 0.791), rather than a medical doctor (Greece: β = −0.556, Switzerland: β = −0.4690, UK: β = −0.468). Participants in Switzerland and the UK preferred these examinations to be undertaken in a dental practice (Switzerland: β = 0.220, UK: β = 0.580) while participants in Greece preferred the dental examination to be undertaken in their homes (β = 1.172). Greek participants preferred dental treatment to be undertaken by a specialist (β = 0.365) in their home (β = 0.862), while participants from the UK and Switzerland preferred to avoid any dental treatment at home (Switzerland: β = −0.387; UK: β = −0.444). Willingness to pay analyses highlighted that participants in Switzerland and the UK were willing to pay more to ensure the continuity of future service provision at a family dental practice (Switzerland: β = 0.454, UK: β = 0.695). Conclusion: Discrete choice experiments are valuable for exploring older people's preferences for dental service provision in different countries. Future larger studies should be conducted to further explore the potential of this approach, given the pressing need to design services that are fit for purpose for older people. Continuity of dental service provision is considered as important by most older people, as they anticipate losing their dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of overnight storage conditions on the dimensional stability and retention of prostheses, as well as participants' subjective perceptions of these interventions. Materials and Methods: Subjects with maxillary complete prostheses (CRPs) were randomly assigned to receive two interventions in a crossover design: storage of their CRPs overnight in a dry environment or in a wet environment with a cleansing tablet. The denture intaglio surface was scanned, and outcome measures were collected before each intervention (BLN), postintervention (PIS), and after immersion in water for 15 minutes (WOC) following each intervention. Dimensional changes were analyzed for the total surface, anterior flange, palate, and tuberosities. Retention force was measured using a dynamometer, and the participants' subjective assessments of comfort, fit, and retention of their CRPs were collected. After verifying normal distribution, paired t and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to check for statistical significance (α = .05). Results: Ten participants (mean age: 76.5 ± 5.9 years) were recruited. Between BLN and PIS, the dimensional changes after dry intervention were significantly less than the wet intervention for the total surface (P = .009), anterior flange (P = .028), and palate (P = .005). No difference was found between the effects of storage or washout interventions on objectively measured CRP retention. However, after WOC following dry storage, participants perceived a lower retention (P = .021), and after WOC following wet storage, participants perceived a more comfortable palate (P = .018). Conclusion: For dimensional stability, dry overnight storage of removable prostheses can be safely recommended when indicated. Immersion in water for 15 minutes does not seem to add advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the differences in accuracy (trueness and precision) of five different optical impression systems.Materials and Methods: The accuracy of the following optical impression systems was tested: (1) CEREC Bluecam (BL; Dentsply Sirona), (2) CEREC Omnicam (OM, Dentsply Sirona); (3) PlanScan (PL; Planmeca); (4) True Definition Scanner (TD; 3M ESPE); and (5) Trios 3 (TR; 3Shape). A standard plastic study model represented a patient with a fully dentate maxilla (ANA-4 V CER, frasaco). Three clinical situations were simulated: Patient 1 (P1): fully dentate; Patient 2 (P2): anterior partial edentulism (two missing incisors); and Patient 3 (P3): posterior partial edentulism (P3) (missing premolar and molar). The models were scanned with a reference scanner (IScan D104i, Imetric), and the digitalized models were used as reference for all comparisons. Then, optical impressions were made for the three clinical scenarios (n = 10 per group).Results: In situation P1, the TD group provided the highest trueness (180.2 ± 46.3μm). In situation P2, the highest trueness was found in the TD (97.9 ± 27.6 μm) and TR (105 ± 9.5μm) groups, and in situation P3, TR had the highest trueness (P < .05) with a median RMS value of 76.2 ± 5.6 μm. In terms of precision, TR provided the highest precision (P < .05) in all three clinical situations, with RMS values 76.7 ± 26 μm for P1, 46.8 ± 14.1 μm for P2, and 39.7 ± 9.1 μm for P3.Conclusion: Two optical impression systems (TR and TD) were superior to the other tested systems in most of the measurements. However, none of the tested systems was clearly superior with respect to both trueness and precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xerostomia and hyposalivation are highly prevalent conditions in old age, particularly among multimorbid elders, and are often attributed to the use of multiple medications. These conditions negatively affect oral functions, such as chewing, swallowing, speech, and taste. Additionally, the lack of lubrication of the oral mucosa frequently leads to super-infections with candida. Denture retention and comfort may also be compromised. The risk of dental caries and erosion of natural teeth increases since saliva, which is essential for repairing initial lesions in tooth structures, is insufficient. The dry sensation in the mouth also impacts the emotional and social well-being of elderly individuals. Patients experiencing xerostomia often avoid certain foods that are uncomfortable or difficult to consume. However, some foods may alleviate the symptoms or even stimulate salivation. This review discusses the limited available evidence on nutritional advice for patients with xerostomia and aims to provide insight into the patient's perspective while offering clinical recommendations. Future studies should focus on investigating the nutritional intake of individuals suffering from xerostomia or hyposalivation in order to ensure oral health comfort, prevent malnutrition, and minimize the impact on their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Malnutrition and risk of malnutrition continues to be a common finding in elders, yet its association with oral function in hospitalised patients remains unclear. Material and methods: Patients aged 70 years or over who had been hospitalised for non‐acute rehabilitation were recruited. Nutritional risk was screened using the Mini‐Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA‐SF) and Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS) scores. Malnutrition was assessed according to the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. All participants underwent the oral hypofunction test battery, evaluating oral hygiene, oral dryness, occlusal force, tongue‐lip motor function, tongue pressure, masticatory and swallowing function. Statistical analyses comprised Mann‐Whitney or Kruskal‐Wallis tests. Bivariate associations between categorical variables were tested using the Pearson chi‐square test; for continuous variables, the Spearman correlation was calculated. A P‐value <.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Sixty patients aged a mean 82.5 ± 7.0 years participated. Some 88.3% were diagnosed with oral hypofunction, and this was more common in older patients (P =.020). Analysing the 7 oral hypofunction tests as an interval variable (NiOF) revealed additional correlations with number of teeth (ρ = 0.477) as well as the nutritional risk, evaluated by the MNA‐SF (ρ = −0.284) and NRS (ρ = 0.317) scores. NiOF scores were higher among denture wearers (P =.003). GLIM did not confirm the correlation with NiOF. Biomarkers such as serum albumin and CRP were not associated with the NiOF score. Conclusion: In this sample, the association between oral function and nutritional state is more obvious in nutritional risk scores than in the malnutrition diagnosis by GLIM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to assess caregivers' knowledge, perception and perceived barriers as well as their daily usual practice concerning oral care provision in a geriatric hospital. Methods: A semi‐structured questionnaire was developed and administered to caregivers in a geriatric ward. Furthermore, oral care delivery to dependent and independent patients was clinically observed. Results: One hundred and fifty‐two caregivers (60% nurses, 40% nursing aids) completed the survey (78% response rate). Clinical oral care was observed in 97 inpatients. Observations revealed that brushing was done in 94% of opportunities in independent patients but in only 55% of dependent patients. This corresponded to the frequency indicated in the questionnaire for independent elders (97%, n.s.), whereas it was significantly different for dependent elders (89%, P <.001). 95% of caregivers stated in the questionnaire never verifying self‐administered oral care, whereas 12.3% were actually observed verifying intraorally its efficiency (P =.07 chi‐squared test). 71% of the respondents stated storing the prostheses dry, and 8% stated that they reinserted it after cleaning. Caregivers' observation revealed that 35.1% of prostheses were reinserted in the mouth, indicating a significantly higher rate than in the questionnaire (P <.05). Respondents felt that their training to perform oral hygiene measures was suboptimal (VAS 48 ± 34.4). Patients verbally refusing oral care were stated as a barrier by 14% of respondents and were witnessed in 15.6% of observation opportunities (n.s). Conclusion: Various measures, such as hospital health policy, improved logistics or advanced hands‐on training, might help to converge the clinical practice towards the theoretical knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of thisin vitrostudy was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of different surface cleaning methods on the shear bond strength (SBS) of zirconia ceramic surfaces. Seventy polished and cleaned zirconia disk specimens of 8 mm in diameter and 3.4 mm in thickness were immersed in fresh saliva. They were then pressed into a freshly mixed silicone disclosing medium. Six different cleaning methods were applied to the tested groups; they were airborne-particle abraded (AA), covered with a cleaning paste (Ivoclean®) (IV), etched with orthophosphoric acid (PA), immersed in alcohol (AL), rinsed with tap water only (WA), or cleaned with steam (SC). No surface cleaning was done after saliva immersion and silicone disclosing medium contamination to the control group (CC). The specimens were then bonded to an adhesive resin cement using polyethylene tubes. SBS was determined using a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. The specimens were also examined with a scanning electron microscope and a stereomicroscope. Group AA yielded the highest SBS value (7.01 ± 1.4 MPa) among the groups, while Group WA had the lowest SBS value (3.03 ± 0.8 MPa). The SBS values of Group AA (7.01 ± 1.4 MPa) and IV (6.2 ± 1.7 MPa) were also significantly higher than those of the remaining four groups (p < 0.05). Within the limitations of thisin vitrostudy, it was concluded that among the various cleaning methods tested, airborne-particle abrasion and Ivoclean® paste were effective in cleaning the zirconia surface. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Pneumonia is a frequent and serious disease among the elderly, often associated with functional and cognitive impairments, dysphagia, malnutrition and immunosenescence. Although the link between the oral hygiene and the risk of pneumonia has been established, the oral status and swallowing function are not routinely screened in the context of a geriatric assessment. Bacteria from oral plaque are regularly aspirated into the lungs and periodontitis induces a chronic inflammation favoring the oral and respiratory epithelial colonization with respiratory pathogens, hence facilitating infections. The poor oral health status and related masticatory impairment are often associated with malnutrition and dehydration. Patients are stranded in a vicious circle of respiratory infections and relapses. Prevention in form of oral health care and daily oral hygiene has proven to be effective., Competing Interests: Les auteurs ne déclarent aucun conflit d’intérêts en relation avec cet article.