COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF ORAL HYGIENE LEVELS IN ELDERLY PATIENTS BASED ON THE TURESKY INDEX

This article presents the results of assessing oral hygiene levels in elderly patients with partially preserved teeth requiring orthopedic rehabilitation, using the Turesky index. Only patients with partial tooth loss were included, as objective hygiene assessment requires the presence of teeth. The Turesky index enables a comprehensive evaluation of all existing teeth (excluding third molars) and allows detection of dental plaque on different tooth surfaces. The findings demonstrated that oral hygiene levels were unsatisfactory in all three study groups. The best hygiene indicators were observed in patients living under the care of relatives, whereas the poorest hygiene was noted in independently living elderly patients. Intergroup differences were statistically significant (t>2), confirming that lifestyle and social environment have a substantial impact on oral hygiene status.