Orofacial pain and its potential oral causes in older people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia

Suzanne Delwel*, Erik J.A. Scherder, Cees de Baat, Tarik T. Binnekade, Johannes C. van der Wouden, Cees M.P.M. Hertogh, Andrea B. Maier, Roberto S.G.M. Perez, Frank Lobbezoo

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The number of people with dementia and natural dentition is growing. As dementia progresses, the degree of self-care decreases and the risk of oral health problems and orofacial pain increases.

OBJECTIVES: To examine and compare the presence of orofacial pain and its potential causes in older people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or dementia.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional observational study, the presence of orofacial pain and its potential causes was studied in 348 participants with MCI or dementia with all levels of cognitive impairment in two outpatient memory clinics and ten nursing homes.

RESULTS: Orofacial pain was reported by 25.7% of the 179 participants who were considered to present a reliable pain self-report (Mini-Mental State Examination score ≥14 points), while it could not be determined in people with more severe cognitive impairment. The oral health examination of the 348 participants indicated that potential painful conditions, such as coronal caries, root caries, tooth root remnants or ulcers were present in 50.3%. There was a significant correlation between the level of cognitive impairment and the number of teeth, r = 0.185, P = 0.003, teeth with coronal caries, r = -0.238, P < 0.001, and the number of tooth root remnants, r = -0.229, P = 0.004, after adjusting for age.

CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that orofacial pain and its potential causes were frequently present in participants with MCI or dementia. Therefore, a regular oral examination by (oral) healthcare providers in people with MCI or dementia remains imperative, even if no pain is reported.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)23-32
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Oral Rehabilitation
Volume46
Issue number1
Early online date3 Oct 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2019

Bibliographical note

© 2018 The Authors. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Funding

This study was supported by grants from Alzheimer Nederland [WE.09-2012-02], Amstelring [RVB U-9107-2013/HM/wb], Arnold Oosterbaan Hersenstichting, Fonds NutsOhra [1130-046], Roomsch Catholijk Oude Armen Kantoor [U-9128-2012 HM/ lw], Stichting Beroepsopleiding Huisartsen (SBOH) and Stichting Henriëtte Hofje. The authors have no conflict of interests to declare. mentia aged 60 years or older, recruited at the outpatient memory clinics of the VU Medical Center and the Amstelland hospital and at ten nursing homes. This study was part of the PainDemiA study, of which the study protocol has been previously published.17 The study protocol was approved by the Medical Ethics Review Committee of the VU University Medical Center Amsterdam (approval number NL 43861.029.13). The study data were collected between April 2014 and December 2015. The study meets the STROBE Guidelines.

FundersFunder number
Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam
Arnold Oosterbaan Hersenstichting
Roomsch Catholijk Oude Armen KantoorU-9128-2012 HM/ lw
Stichting Henri?tte Hofje
Stichting Henriëtte Hofje
VU Medical Center
Fonds NutsOhra1130-046
Stichting Beroepsopleiding Huisarts

    Keywords

    • aged
    • cognitive dysfunction
    • facial pain
    • geriatric dentistry
    • oral health
    • toothache

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