Extending Dental Care to Nursing Home Residents to Reduce Mouth Infections and Incidence of Pneumonia and Improve Diabetic Glucose Control

Launched by MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES · Mar 17, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how dental care can help nursing home residents stay healthier. The study aims to find out if treating dental infections and improving dental hygiene can lead to better dental health, lower the chances of getting pneumonia, and help control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. The care will be provided right where the residents live, with dental hygienists and trained assistants using technology to connect with dentists for guidance. This approach is important because many nursing home residents do not get the dental care they need due to a shortage of dentists.

To participate in the trial, individuals must be over 60 years old and living in a nursing home. They should have a certain level of health that allows them to take part in the study, and they must agree to participate and allow access to their medical records. Participants can expect to receive dental treatments, including care for gum infections and assistance with brushing their teeth and cleaning dentures. This study hopes to show the benefits of better dental care for older adults living in communal settings.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adult \> 60 years of age residing in a nursing home or communal care setting;
• • Review of Medical history results in an assigned American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Evaluation of Class II or III;
• • Frailty Assessment of Low or Moderate using the Modified FRAIL Questionnaire;
• • Consent is required for study participation, disease control oral healthcare, and access to medical records.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Age \< 60;
• • American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Evaluation of Class IV or V;
• • High frailty evaluation using the Modified FRAIL Questionnaire;
• • Resident deemed behaviorally or physically difficult to treat by initial clinical assessment.