Background A decline in self-care due to deteriorating general health presents a challenge for oral health in care-dependent older people. The most recently published data on the oral health of nursing home residents in Flanders, as assessed by oral health professionals, dates from 2010 to 2012. This study aimed to update the condition on the current oral health status of nursing home residents in Flanders.Methods In this cross-sectional study, the oral health of nursing home residents was evaluated by oral health professionals using the Oral Health Section as developed for use within the interRAI Suite of Instruments (OHS-interRAI). Validated dental indices were used to provide more detailed information about the condition of oral hygiene, gums, and teeth. Bivariate analyses were performed to investigate associations between oral health items and participants’ clinical characteristics.Results A total of 458 residents participated in the study with a mean age of 82.7 (± 7.8) years (70.3% female). For people with natural teeth (53.9%), the most prevalent oral health problems were insufficient oral hygiene (75.7%), and poor condition of teeth (56.6%) and gums (49.9%). High levels of dental plaque resulted in a mean Oral Hygiene Index of 4.5 (± 2.6). About 44.0% of the participants had at least one tooth with untreated caries affecting the nerve. The mean Modified Gingival Index was 1.8 (± 1.2), indicating mild inflammation of the entire gingiva. Denture hygiene was insufficient in 68.5% of the cases. Self-reported oral health problems were mainly related to dry mouth (32.8%) and chewing difficulty (23.4%). Strongest correlations were found between oral hygiene and gum condition (r = .324, p < .0001) and chewing difficulty and pain (r = .247, p < .0001). Furthermore, cognitive impairment showed strongest correlation with the level of oral hygiene and gingival health.Conclusion Despite the advances in dentistry, the oral health of nursing home residents still remains poor. Oral health of people with cognitive decline or functional impairment needs more attention. The regular oral health assessment with the OHS-interRAI by healthcare providers without a dental background has the potential to facilitate the early detection and prevention of oral health problems.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06536322- Retrospectively registered July 23rd, 2024.
