Oral Health Status of Older Adults in Minnesota

Objectives: The Older Adult Basic Screening Survey (OABSS) is a surveillance tool developed by the Association of State & Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) to describe the oral health status of the older adult (65+) population.
Methods: The Minnesota Department of Health administered the OABSS in thirty long-term care facilities chosen through a randomized sample that included urban/rural sites proportionate to the state population. Calibrated dental hygienists performed the open mouth survey, while data recorders entered findings electronically on tablets programmed with Epi Info. The dental hygienists observed 12 indicators that describe the oral health status of older adults. Demographic information was also collected. The following includes preliminary data from the OABSS and will be completed in October 2016.
Results: This preliminary analysis includes 29 of the 30 facilities; 899 residents surveyed. Unadjusted statistics indicated 69.7% were female, 94.6% were white, 55.2% were rural and 27.0% were edentulous. Of the edentulous, 80.2% had full maxillary and mandibular dentures, and 26.7% had no posterior contacts. Dentate participants had a mean of 18.6 intact teeth, with means of 8.3 and 10.2 in the maxillary and mandibular, respectively. Of those dentate, 22.5% had no posterior contacts and 17.9% had one posterior contact. Including all residents, 40.9% of the older adults had early or urgent care needs.
Conclusions: Older adults in Minnesota are experiencing a need for oral health care, affecting overall health. Many lack posterior contacts, which contribute to their ability to eat and receive necessary nutrition. We anticipate that the findings from this study will establish baselines, inform policy changes, and guide the design programs to provide oral care for the older adult population in Minnesota.