2023 Funded Project

CFDHRE Peer Reviewed Grant

Project Title:

A pilot study in continuing care (CC) facilities to assess the oral health status of residents with and without dental implants

Principal Applicant

Sharon Compton, PhD, RDH, from the University of Alberta

Dental implants are an option more people are choosing to replace missing teeth, including people who are living in CC facilities. This study will conduct and compare oral health screenings of residents in CC who have dental implants with those of people who do not. Although dental implants can be helpful in allowing people to have better oral health, they need special care. Many CC staff have been informed to care for removable dentures. However, little information is disseminated to health care staff about identifying and supporting daily care of dental implants. The study will include interviews with CC staff who provide oral care to ask what they know about dental implants and how they care for them. Results will help to establish the health of dental implants in the mouths of residents in CC, understand how to support daily oral care of dental implants for residents in CC, and understand how dental professionals can further promote and support better oral health for people who will be entering CC. Knowledge gained from this pilot study will be used to develop a multisite study to advance understanding of the status and maintenance of dental implants in CC settings.

Contributors

University of Alberta and multiple CC facilities in Edmonton.

Award

$10,000