Paper
Thursday, 20 July 2006
This presentation is part of : Community-Based Care Initiatives
Risks of Osteoporosis and Poor Oral Health in a Vulnerable Population
Marlene S. Huff, PhD, RNC, Elizabeth Kinion, EdD, and Mary Agnes Kendra, PhD, CNS. College of Nursing, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, USA
Learning Objective #1: Describe relationships between oral health and osteoporosis.
Learning Objective #2: Identify nursing approaches to prevention and treatment of clients seeking oral health care in an academic nursing center.
Osteoporosis: A Risk Associated With Poor Oral Health There is a dynamic relationship between periodontal structure and teeth. Alveolar bone loss is a primary indicator of periodontal disease. This is especially evident among people with poor oral hygiene and dental care. Both osteoporosis and periodontal disease are serious public health concerns. This paper will discuss the oral health status of vulnerable adults who participated in the Nurses’ Oral Health Initiative. The purpose of this study was to describe the frequency of risk for osteoporosis using the SCORE questionnaire for persons who had major and minor oral health problems. A nonexperimental, descriptive, correlational design was used to determine a relationship between oral health and risk for osteoporosis. Subjects were members of a vulnerable population with a common characteristic of a lack of access to dental care. The subjects had requested treatment for dental problems and were seen in a nurse-managed clinic for the initial assessment. Following informed consent, a comprehensive oral physical exam was completed by the nurse and questionnaires were completed. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. Bivariate statistical tests including t-test and Pearson’s r were used to identify relationships between variables (oral health findings, values on the SCORE questionnaire, age, race). Results of the study suggest that this population is at increased risk for associated chronic health problems including osteoporosis. Nurses who conduct oral health assessments play a central role in early identification of bone mineral loss. Through recognition of the relationship between poor oral health and osteoporosis, referrals can be made for dental care and appropriate diagnostic testing and adequate follow up for osteoporosis. A recommendation that surfaced from this study is a need for interdisciplinary studies between dentists, dental hygienists, and nurses.

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