Background and aim: Poor oral hygiene and oral disease are associated with an increased risk of hypertension. For this older population public dental clinics offer a unique opportunity to screen for hypertension and provide primary prevention. This study aimed to characterize the oral disease burden among older adults and to determine the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in a population attending a large public dental clinic.
Method: Participants (n=302) were adults (mean age 59.9 ± 9 years, 60.7% female) recruited from a public dental clinic located in Western Sydney, Australia. Blood pressure was measured with an automatic digital device (Omron HEM-907®) with the participant in the seated position after resting in the dental chair for 5 minutes. Oral health and medical history details were obtained by patient self-reporting.
Results: A total of 302 participants, were recruited. Over a third (33.1%) had significant tooth loss (< 20 teeth), nearly half (49.5%) were identified as needing treatment for gum disease and less than half (47.5%) brushed their teeth twice or more time per day. The prevalence of hypertension was 74% (95% CI: 66%, 81.%) in those >65 compared to 28% (21% CI: 36%, 81.%) In those younger... Of those with hypertension (n=157), 82.7% were aware of their diagnosis, 76.9% were receiving antihypertensive medication (treated), and 56.5% of those on medication had their blood pressure controlled.
Conclusion and Implication: Oral health practitioners could play an important role in primary care by screening patients with a high burden of oral disease for undiagnosed or poorly controlled hypertension. By providing preventive care targeting common risk factors shared by oral disease and hypertension, older adults would have improved health prospects.