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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Is it necessary to have a dentist within an intensive care unit team? Report of a randomised clinical trial

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Author(s):
Bellissimo-Rodrigues, Wanessa Teixeira [1] ; Menegueti, Mayra Goncalves [2] ; Gaspar, Gilberto Gambero [2] ; Cavenague de Souza, Hayala Cristina [3] ; Auxiliadora-Martins, Maria [4] ; Basile-Filho, Anibal [4] ; Martinez, Roberto [1] ; Bellissimo-Rodrigues, Fernando [3, 2]
Total Authors: 8
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Dept Internal Med, Div Infect Dis, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Univ Hosp, Infect Control Serv, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Dept Social Med, Campus Univ S-N, BR-14048900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Dept Surg & Anat, Intens Care Div, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: INTERNATIONAL DENTAL JOURNAL; v. 68, n. 6, p. 420-427, DEC 2018.
Web of Science Citations: 1
Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of dental treatment in improving oral health in critical patients. Methods This randomised clinical trial was conducted in a general intensive care unit (ICU) at a tertiary care public facility from 1 January 2011 to 8 August 2013. Data from 254 adult patients staying in the ICU for 48 hours or more were analysed. The experimental group (n = 127) had access to dental treatment provided by a dentist four to five times a week, in addition to routine oral hygiene, whereas the control group (n = 127) had access only to routine oral hygiene, including topical application of chlorhexidine, provided by the ICU nursing staff. The baseline oral health status of the enrolled patients was poor and included edentulism, caries, gingivitis, periodontitis and residual roots. Dental treatment consisted of toothbrushing, tongue scraping, removal of calculus, scaling and root planing, caries restoration and tooth extraction. Results The Oral Hygiene Index Simplified (OHI-S) and Gingival Index (GI) scores decreased in the experimental group but did not change significantly in the control group during the ICU stay. Dental treatment prevented most of the episodes of respiratory tract infections, as previously reported. No severe adverse events from the dental treatment were observed. Conclusion From an interprofessional perspective, our results support the idea of including dentists in the ICU team to improve oral health in critical patients and effectively prevent respiratory tract infections, in addition to the improvement achievable by applying chlorhexidine alone. (AU)