Effect of Combined Oral Management, Rehabilitation, and Nutrition Interventions on Improving Systemic Problems in Older Adults

AbstractPurpose of ReviewMost studies on oral management have focused on the outcomes of single intervention methods. In this review, we conducted a literature search to investigate whether combined oral management, rehabilitation, and nutritional interventions improved the systemic problems in older adults requiring long-term care.Recent FindingsSupplementing oral care with therapist-led rehabilitation or swallowing exercises resulted in a reduction in the incidence of pneumonia cases during the intervention period. Weekly oral function training, combined with the provision of a high nutritional diet for malnourished older adults, significantly increased serum albumin and total protein levels in the intervention group. A combined intervention program of diet, exercise, and oral care for 11 weeks resulted in a significant increase in body weight, BMI, and social engagement.SummaryCombined oral management, rehabilitation, and nutritional interventions in older adults requiring long-term care had positive effects on health maintenance.
Source: Current Oral Health Reports - Category: Dentistry Source Type: research