Oral health, treatment needs and cost in homeless men

An estimated number of 2000 homeless persons live in Israel. 80% of them are immigrants from the former Soviet union. This study was performed in a private rehabilitation center in Kiryat Shlomo. Objectives: to asses dental status, treatment needs and treatment cost of the homeless in a rehabilitation center in Israel. Material and methods: 35 homeless persons in the center were examined according to WHO protocol. The examination included periodontal status, dental status and treatment needs, Denture wearing and need for dentures. Results: The mean age was 43.5 years (range 22-66). Mean Education in years 10.2±2.3. 80% (28) were immigrants from the former sovient union. Periodontal status: mean number of sexstants (±s.d) was CPI 4- 0.45±0.91 sextants, CPI 3 - 1.08±1.19, CPI 2 - 1.5±1.26 , CPI 1 - 0.2±0.53 and 2±2.1 excluded sextants. 26% had one or more sextants with pocket of more than 6 mm and 57% with any sextant with 4-5 mm pockets. Dental status: The mean DMFT was 17.77±9.4. ( D(T)=5.52±5.1, M(T) 13.3±10 ). Two persons were edentulous and only one had all of his natural teeth. Only 3 men had dentures, all in upper jaw, two of them full dentures. Need for treatment- 70% needed extractions, 35% pulp care, 43% fillings, 40% bridges. 65% need new upper dentures and 71% new lower dentures. The Estimated Treatment cost per person based on conmmunity clinic taarif was 4235 NIS . Conclusions: oral health of the study population was bad with high teatment needs. A dental treatment should cosidered as a part of the rehabilitation process.