Oral health status of elderly residents in long-term care facilities and oral care experiences and educational needs of caregivers: A mixed methods study

Shin, Min-Joo; Koh, Jae-Hun; Choi, Eun-Jae; Kwon, Hye-Jin; Kim, Seon-Jip; Lee, Hyo-Jin; Suh, Hyewon; Lim, Jijun; Lee, Jung-Ah; Cho, Hyun-Jae

doi:2026.64.8.275

J Korean Dent Assoc > Volume 64(8); 2026 > Article

Original Article

Journal of Korean Dental Association 2026;64(8):275-284.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22974/jkda.2026.64.8.002 Published online August 31, 2026.

요양시설 입소 노인의 구강건강 실태와 요양보호사의 구강관리 경험 및 교육요구도: 혼합연구

Oral health status of elderly residents in long-term care facilities and oral care experiences and educational needs of caregivers: A mixed methods study

Min-Joo Shin¹

, Jae-Hun Koh^1,2

¹Department of Preventive and Public Oral Health Dentistry, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
²Yonsei S Dental Clinic, Seongnam, Korea
³Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Health Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea
⁴Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Dentistry, Kangwon University, Gangneung, Korea
⁵Special Care Dental Hospital, Seoul, Korea
⁶Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA

Correspondence: Hyun-Jae Cho, Tel: +82-2-740-8677,
Email: stbluewi@snu.ac.kr

Received: 9 April 2026 • Revised: 7 July 2026 • Accepted: 24 July 2026

Abstract

Purpose
This mixed-methods study aimed to investigate the oral health status of elderly residents in long-term care facilities and to explore caregivers' experiences and educational needs regarding oral care.
Materials and Methods
Quantitative data were collected from 132 elderly residents in four facilities in Seoul through oral examinations and surveys. Differences in oral health indicators across long-term care grades were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured indepth interviews as an exploratory qualitative inquiry.
Results
The mean number of remaining teeth was 12.58±9.74. Approximately 54.7% of residents required partial or full assistance with toothbrushing. High prevalence rates were observed for masticatory discomfort (36.5%), food debris retention (50.4%), and dementia (73.9%). Qualitatively, caregivers identified oral care as their most burdensome task due to safety risks. Caregivers reported limited proficiency and insufficient access to oral hygiene aids appliance. They expressed a strong desire for practical, skill-based training, particularly regarding uncooperative residents, and showed positive perceptions toward VR-based simulation as a potential training modality.
Conclusion
The oral health of institutionalized elderly is significantly poor, yet caregivers face challenges in providing adequate care. Although subjective oral health needs and the demand for assistance increased with care dependency, objective hygiene outcomes did not differ by grade, suggesting that oral care provision may not be sufficiently tailored to functional status. Systematic, skill-based education programs for caregivers and establishment of professional dental referral systems within long-term care settings are needed.

Key Words: Oral Health; Nursing Homes; Aged; Caregivers; Qualitative Research