Aim: An epidemiological study was carried out, in hospital wards, with the aim of assessing the oral health status of patients subjected to multiple medical treatments.
Material and methods: The study was conducted at Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo (Pavia, Italy). A questionnaire was submitted to patients for the evaluation of oral hygiene devices used; then, a clinical examination was conducted to collect Decayed Missing Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, Plaque Index (PI), and Marginal Gingival Index (MGI) values.
Results: Manual toothbrushes were used by a wide range of the sample study (65-100% among hospital wards), together with mouthwash (20-80%); interproximal aids were used by few patients (the lowest recorded value was 33.3%).
Conclusion: dental hygienists could be integrated into hospital wards as oral hygiene procedure instructors, for the improvement of the oral health conditions of hospitalized patients.
Keywords: DMFT; Marginal Gingival Index; Plaque Index; dental education; dental hygiene; periodontal disease; systemic diseases.