Study to establish an evidence for the promotion of domiciliary dental care

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18813
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57080:Social dentistry-related
• Research Institution: The Nippon Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Kumi (五十嵐公美) 日本歯科大学, 生命歯学部, 助教 (40847612)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 歯科訪問診療 / 在宅歯科診療 / 口腔 / 歯科治療 / 在宅療養高齢者

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to determine the oral health status among older adults receiving home medical care, as well as to identify the factors that impede the continuation of domiciliary dental care (DDC). Approximately 70% of them had teeth that required extraction, and their oral health was poor. In addition, the ability to rinse and tongue changes were shown to be possible factors that impeded DDC. We believe that the results of this study contributed to the identification of issues and the construction of evidence for DDC.

Free Research Field

摂食嚥下リハビリテーション、高齢者歯科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高齢者における口腔内の状態や歯科治療効果に言及した報告は、病院・施設中心であり、在宅におけるエビデンスは乏しい。我々は、地域で訪問診療を実践する医師と連携し、在宅で生活する高齢者の口腔内の実態を調査し、かつ追跡調査したことで、歯科訪問診療の成果や継続不可能となる因子を明らかにした。本研究の結果は、歯科訪問診療推進のための科学的根拠構築に確実に寄与したといえる。