Rohit Shishodia

In what has the potential of being a shocking revelation, around 98% senior citizens living in the national capital, irrespective of socioeconomic status, suffer from oral health problems, researchers from Delhi’s premier dental institute said.

The findings were shared by the dentists from Delhi’s Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Science (MAIDS), working under Project AMMA, a comprehensive oral healthcare programme for the elderly, in collaboration with the Delhi Government’s Department of Social Security, under Mobile Dental Clinic Project of National Health Mission launched in May 2014.

The report has revealed that a total of 86% of elderly people in Delhi aged 60 years or above suffer from some form of gum disease, while another 14% suffer from dental caries.

Additionally, 7% of the elderly who were screened were found to be tobacco users.

The gum diseases, dental caries and problems of tobacco use were detected during different screening camps organised in recreation centres and old age homes in different locations across Delhi.

The report pointed out that oral health remains the most neglected segment of healthcare across the various age groups including the elderly.

According to the report, more than 600 elders, from nine senior citizen recreation centres, have been screened for dental diseases under the initiative.

Around 382 elderly have been provided with oral health treatment services at the premises of senior citizen centres.

Dr Swati Jain, Consultant, Mobile Dental Health Clinic Project, National Health Mission, MAIDS, said, “The oral disease burden of the patients was huge such that 100% of the senior citizens screened had one or other dental complaints.”