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Oral health of psychiatric in-patients

A point prevalence survey of an inner-city hospital

Imperial College School of Medicine, London

Rachel Day, Dental Officer and Victor Wulff-Cochrane, District Dental Officer

Riverside Community Healthcare NHS Trust, London

Michael Phelan, Consultant Psychiatrist and Primary Care Research Co-ordinator

Charing Cross Hospital and Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham NHS Trust, 24 St Dunstan's Road, London W6 8RP

Correspondence: Specialist Registrar to Dr Falkowski, The Royal London Hospital (St Clement's), 2a Bow Road, London E3 4LL

AIM AND METHOD

The aim of the study was to get an estimate of oral health needs of in-patients on acute general adult wards in an inner-city psychiatric unit. Information was collected by means of a cross-sectional survey with patient interviews and a brief oral examination.

RESULTS

A significant majority of patients had carious teeth, inflammation of gums and oral plaque. A majority of patients complained of pain during the preceding 3 months and problems with teeth.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Oral health of patients admitted to an acute psychiatric unit is worse than compared to the general population. There appears to be a need for basic dental health education and easy access to dental care on psychiatric wards.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. K. Tang, F. C.S. Sun, G. S. Ungvari, and D. O'Donnell Oral Health of Psychiatric In-Patients in Hong Kong International Journal of Social Psychiatry, June 1, 2004; 50(2): 186 - 191. [Abstract] [PDF]