At-Home dental cleanings may save Seniors' teeth
NCT ID NCT05335239
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether having a dental assistant visit older adults at home every three months for professional cleaning and high-fluoride toothpaste could prevent root cavities. 194 home-living adults aged 65+ who needed daily care took part. The goal was to see if this approach improves oral health compared to usual care.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- professional dental cleaning and high-fluoride toothpaste
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple, at-home way to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health in older adults who need help with daily care.
- What could go wrong
- This trial is completed but small (194 participants) and only lasted 12 months. Results may not apply to all older adults, and the benefit may be modest.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
194 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Dec 2021
- Finished
-
Apr 2024
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
65 years and older
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Home-living older adults * Age ≥65 * Eligible for subsidized dental care for those with in-home care * Accepted oral health assessment by dental hygienists * Non-smokers * Ability to cooperate during oral assessment for 5-10 minutes * At least one natural tooth * Understand and able to communicate in Swedish. * Additionally: For oral microbiota, grade 1-2 according to mirror slide friction test. Exclusion Criteria: * Edentulousness * Full dentures * Cognitive limitations that is an obstacle for cooperation * Malignancies and/or immunosuppressive diseases * Coagulation defects. * Anticoagulants are registered but not as an exclusion criterion. * Moving or planned to move to a nursing home * For oral microbiota: grade 3 according to mirror slide friction test
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Karolinska institute
Huddinge, 114 41, Sweden
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