The Importance of Hospital Dentistry in Improving the Quality of Life of Patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Aline Teofilo da Silva1, Sergio da Costa Vasquez2, João Marcelo Ferreira de Medeiros3, Cristiano Gaujac4 and Irineu Gregnanin Pedron5*
1 Undergraduate Student, Universidade Brasil, São Paulo, Brazil.
2 Director of Technology Information and Inovation, IMED - Instituto de Medicina, Estudos e Desenvolvimento, São Paulo, Brazil.
3 Professor, Department of Endodontics, Universidade Brasil, São Paulo, Brazil.
4 Professor, Department of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
5 Professor, Department of Periodontology, Implantology, Stomatology, Oral Surgery, Therapeutic and Laser, Universidade Brasil, São Paulo, Brazil.
*Corresponding Author: Irineu Gregnanin Pedron, Professor, Department of Periodontology, Implantology, Stomatology, Therapeutic and Laser, Universidade Brasil, São Paulo, Brazil.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58624/SVOADE.2023.04.0141
Received: June 05, 2023 Published: July 25, 2023
Abstract
As from the admission of patients to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), one must consider the increased risk of opportunistic infections, either stomatological or systemic. Subsequently, the need for pharmacological therapy, particularly antibiotic therapy, hospitalization costs, with possible increase in morbidity and mortality rates are increased. Considering also the post-pandemic period of COVID-19, in which prevention should be projected to the maximum, the aim is to reduce the permanence rate of patients in hospital bed occupation. Hospital Dentistry has been practiced in clinical and surgical hospital environments with the proposal of management and preventive and curative dental conducts to favor the oral health of hospitalized patients. In this perspective, the purpose of this article was to review the role of Hospital Dentistry in reducing the rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia, by the institution of oral hygiene protocols; reduction of antibiotic administration; reduction of morbidity, mortality rates and rates of hospital bed stays; reduction of costs (to the patient and to the hospital); and improvement of quality of life rates.
Keywords: Dentistry; Hospital; Intensive Care Unit; Oral Health; Oral Hygiene.
Citation: da Silva AT, Vasquez SC, de Medeiros JMF, Gaujac C, Pedron IG. The Importance of Hospital Dentistry in Improving the Quality of Life of Patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). SVOA Dentistry 2023, 4:4, 140-144.
