Home dental care for older adults who need assistance
Domiciliary Professional Cleaning for Care Dependent Older Adults - A Randomized Controlled Trial
This study tests if providing dental care at home can help older adults who need assistance keep their teeth healthy and prevent cavities.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 196 (estimated) |
| Ages | 65 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Karolinska Institutet Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Huddinge) |
| Trial ID | NCT05335239 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study evaluates the effectiveness of domiciliary dental care for older adults who are dependent on others for daily activities. It focuses on providing professional dental cleaning and oral hygiene support to prevent root caries and improve overall oral health. The intervention involves using high fluoride toothpaste and regular dental check-ups conducted at home, addressing the challenges faced by older adults, especially those with dementia, who may struggle to visit dental clinics. The study aims to assess the impact of this approach on the oral health of care-dependent older adults.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are home-living older adults aged 65 and above who require assistance with oral care and have at least one natural tooth.
Not a fit: Patients who are edentulous or have cognitive limitations that prevent cooperation will not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve oral health and quality of life for dependent older adults.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific impact of domiciliary dental care on root caries in care-dependent older adults has not been extensively studied, there is growing evidence supporting the benefits of home dental care for improving oral health in similar populations.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Home-living older adults * Age ≥65 * Eligible for subsidized dental care for those with home care * Accepted oral health assessment by RDH * Non-smokers * Ability to cooperate during oral assessment for 5-10 minutes * At least one natural tooth * Understand and able to communicate in Swedish. * Additionally: For oral microbiota, grade 1-2 according to mirror slide friction test. Exclusion Criteria: * Edentulousness * Full dentures * Cognitive limitations that is an obstacle for cooperation * Malignancies and/or immunosuppressive diseases * Coagulation defects. * Anticoagulants are registered but not as an exclusion criterion. * For oral microbiota: grade 3 according to mirror slide friction test
Where this trial is running
Huddinge
- Karolinska institute — Huddinge, Sweden (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Inger Wårdh
- Email: inger.wardh@ki.se
- Phone: 0739168869
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.