Table 2.
First semi-structured interview
| First interview (n,%) |
Total (n = 89) |
Robust (n = 54) |
Frail (n = 9) |
Complex (n = 26) |
P-value between groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experiencing oral pain at time of interview | 29 (32.6%) | 16 (29.6%) | 2 (22.2%) | 11 (42.3%) | 0.412 |
|
Oral pain lasted > 6 weeks |
34 (38.2%) | 19 (35.2%) | 3 (33.3%) | 12 (46.2%) | 0.631 |
| VAS1 pain score (mean, SD) | 5.8 (2.1) | 6.1 (2.5) | 6.0 (1.4) | 5.5 (1.9) | 0.855 |
| No pain complaint or cannot remember | 9 (10.1%) | 5 (9.3%) | 1 (11.1%) | 3 (11.5%) | 0.881 |
| Measures taken to relieve oral pain complaints | |||||
| Visited the dentist for oral pain complaint | 50 (56.2%) | 35 (64.8%) | 3 (33.3%) | 12 (46.2%) | 0.100 |
| Other measures (painkillers, mouth rinse) | 9 (10.1%) | 6 (11.1%) | 1 (11.1%) | 2 (7.7%) | 1.000 |
| Type of oral pain complaint | |||||
| Toothache | 21 (23.6%) | 15 (27.8%) | 2 (22.2%) | 4 (15.4%) | 0.471 |
| Denture-related complaint | 22 (24.7%) | 10 (18.5%) | 3 (33.3%) | 9 (34.6%) | 0.241 |
| Minor dental complaint | 21 (23.6%) | 12 (22.2%) | 2 (22.2%) | 7 (26.9%) | 0.893 |
| Complicated pain complaints | 6 (6.7%) | 6 (11.1%) | – | 1 (3.8%) | 0.212 |
| Periodontal disease (increased tooth mobility) | 4 (4.5%) | 3 (5.6%) | 1 (11.1%) | 1 (3.8%) | 1.000 |
| Peri-implant pain (peri-implant tissue) | 4 (4.5%) | 2 (3.7%) | – | 1 (3.8%) | 0.545 |
| Fractured teeth, radix relicta | 2 (2.2%) | 1 (1.9%) | – | 1 (3.8%) | 0.635 |
| Location of the oral pain compliant | |||||
| Upper jaw | 21 (23.6%) | 13 (24.1%) | 2 (22.2%) | 6 (23.1%) | 0.990 |
| Lower jaw | 39 (43.8%) | 23 (42.6%) | 6 (66.7%) | 10 (38.5%) | 0.326 |
| Both jaws | 10 (11.2%) | 7 (13.0%) | – | 3 (11.5%) | 0.779 |
| Soft tissues | 8 (9.0%) | 5 (9.3%) | – | 3 (11.5%) | 0.750 |
| Not an oral complaint: jaw joint or skin | 2 (2.2%) | 1 (1.9%) | 1 (3.8%) | 0.635 | |
| Dental visits | |||||
| Registered with local dentist | 76 (85.4%) | 47 (87.0%) | 7 (77.8%) | 22 (84.6%) | 0.668 |
| Recent dental visit (< 1 year) | 67 (75.3%) | 42 (77.8%) | 5 (55.6%) | 20 (76.9%) | 0.350 |
| Transport to local dentist | |||||
| Able to visit local dentist independently | 63 (70.8%) | 47 (87.0%)a,b | 4 (44.4%) | 12 (46.2%) | < 0.001 |
| Uses local services | 11 (12.4%) | 4 (7.4%)b | – | 7 (26.9%) | 0.045 |
| Requires assistance from family or caregiver | 15 (16.9%) | 3 (5.6%)a,b | 5 (55.6%) | 7 (26.9%) | < 0.001 |
| Elderly experiencing oral pain during the first interview | |||||
| Advised local dentist | 19 (21.4%) | 10 (18.5%) | 1 (11.1%) | 8 (30.8%) | 0.334 |
| Requires specialist care | 2 (2.2%) | 1 (1.9%) | 1 (11.1%) | – | 0.276 |
| Receives specialist care | 3 (3.4%) | 3 (5.6%) | – | – | 0.672 |
| Recent or upcoming dental appointment or no appointment needed | 5 (5.6%) | 2 (3.7%) | – | 3 (11.5%) | 0.367 |
1VAS Visual analogue scale
a Statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between robust and frail elderly
b Statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between robust and complex elderly