Changes in oral health status with dental intervention during the acute to subacute stages of stroke

Ayu Sakai; Koichiro Matsuo; Yu Sekimoto; Rena Hidaka; Akihiro Yoshihara

doi:10.1111/ger.12706

Changes in oral health status with dental intervention during the acute to subacute stages of stroke

Gerodontology. 2023 Jul 26. doi: 10.1111/ger.12706. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ayu Sakai^{1

2}, Koichiro Matsuo³, Yu Sekimoto^{3

4}, Rena Hidaka³, Akihiro Yoshihara⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dentistry and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Fujita Health University Hospital, Aichi, Japan.
² Doctorate Course for Oral Health and Welfare, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan.
³ Department of Oral Health Sciences for Community Welfare, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Department of Dentistry and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, Aichi, Japan.
⁵ Division of Oral Science for Health Promotion, Niigata University, Niigata City, Japan.

PMID: 37496302
DOI: 10.1111/ger.12706

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the changes in oral health status with dental intervention during the acute and subacute stages of stroke and their associations with oral intake status.

Background: Oral health may deteriorate easily in patients following a stroke. However, data are scarce on the changes in oral health with dental intervention throughout the acute and subacute stages of stroke recovery.

Material and methods: We prospectively recruited 98 stroke patients who were admitted to an acute hospital and referred to a dental team and then could be followed at a subacute rehabilitation unit in the same hospital. Provided dental intervention, including oral health care and other general dental treatments, was recorded. Oral health was assessed with Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT), and the changes in OHAT score during the acute and subacute stages were statistically tested. Oral feeding status was examined using Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS). The cohort was divided into the non-oral feeding, dysphagia and regular diet groups based on FOIS score. Differences in OHAT among the oral intake groups were statistically tested.

Results: Gross OHAT score did not differ among the oral intake groups at the time of admission (mean ± standard deviation score: 6.5 ± 2.8 for non-oral diet, 5.6 ± 2.4 for dysphagia diet and 5.3 ± 2.1 for regular diet), but improved more in the regular diet group (2.4 ± 1.5) than in the other groups (5.8 ± 3.0 for non-oral diet and 4.0 ± 2.1 for dysphagia diet) at the last evaluation. Oral hygiene scores improved significantly in the acute stage, while scores for dentures and natural teeth ameliorated significantly in the subacute stage.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that appropriate dental intervention in the acute and subacute stages of stroke may contribute to improved oral health and oral food intake.

Keywords: activities of daily living; dysphagia; oral health; oral health assessment tool; stroke.

Abstract

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