Emergency dentistry could be required for people who have spent time in hospital, new research has revealed.
According to the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF), many hospitals are overlooking the wellbeing of the mouth and teeth, leading to potentially serious consequences for patients.
The study, which is due to be published in next month’s Journal of Clinical Periodontology, examined hospital stays in the UK, US, France and the Netherlands between 1998 and 2009.
Plaque accumulation was one of the potential emergency dentistry issues that were found to increase during time in a medical facility.
Build-up of plaque can result in inflammation of the gums, which is not normally serious but can cause teeth to fall out in severe circumstances.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the BDHF, said: “It may be inevitable that oral care is seen as a low priority, but it is clear that more needs to be done to ensure that some of the risks are minimised.”