Caring for smiles: improving the oral health of residents

Significant advances in the oral health of the general population have been made in recent years. Between 1978 and 2008 the percentage of edentulous adults (adults without teeth) in England fell from 28% to only 6%, with even greater falls in Wales and Northern Ireland (White et al, 2012). In Scotland, from 1995 to 2012 there has been a steady decline in edentulous rates in the 16–64 year old age group from 11% to 4% (Bromley et al, 2012). As expected, this proportion declines as people age, with 46% of those over 75 retaining some natural teeth. However, an upward trend over time reflects both better dental provision and behaviour change in people's oral care. The numerous studies attesting to the poor oral health status of older people resident in care homes, however, suggests that this progress is not universal (Chalmers et al, 2002; Isaksson and Soderfeldt, 2007; Sweeney et al, 2007; Lavigne, 2008).