Pneumonia is a major cause of mortality in the US among persons over the age of 65, accounting for nearly 54,000 deaths in this age group in 2005.3 Identifying and reducing the effects of a significant risk factor, therefore, has the potential to save lives.
Causality of periodontal infection and pneumonia-related death cannot be determined by this study. Perhaps if we knew whether periodontal bacteria is an initiating factor or primarily exacerbates an established lung infection, appropriate treatment could be targeted to high risk patients, such as the institutionalized elderly. In general, however, these individuals can benefit from appropriate oral health education and treatment. Clearly, reducing the incidence of oral infection is important to sustain health.
Elderly residents in nursing homes and their caregivers should be taught tooth and tongue-brushing techniques, and dentures should be cleaned daily. In addition, to reduce the influence of bacterial organisms, they should brush daily using a toothpaste with an ingredient such as triclosan, which is antibacterial and inhibits gingival inflammation, as part of a total program designed to assist elderly residents in achieving improved oral health.
Although many factors could be associated with the cause and effect of pneumonia, this study illustrates the supportive role that the dental profession can undertake to improve the overall health of the institutionalized elderly patient.