To assess the oral health status and felt needs of patients admitted to medical/surgical wards.

The cross-sectional study included 346 patients who were recruited from medical/surgical wards. Dental parameters were recorded using the World Health Organization (WHO) Oral Health Assessment Form for Adults, 2013.

Mean age of patients was 40.77 [standard deviation (SD) ± 14.4] years; 36.4% aged > 45 years and 32.9% educated beyond 10 years of education. 77.2% used toothbrush and 75.7% toothpaste for cleaning of teeth. 91% brushed their teeth at least once a day and 77.7% performed tongue cleaning. Greater number of decayed teeth (3.43 ± 3.38) were seen in those educated ≤ 10 years when compared with those educated beyond this level (2.43 ± 2.55). Participants with low education attainment and higher age group (>45 years) had significantly more teeth missing due to caries/other reasons, and with deeper periodontal disease. Conversely, higher educated and younger aged group (<45 years) participants had significantly greater mean number of sound teeth and teeth without gingival and periodontal abnormalities. There was no significant difference between smokers and nonsmokers, those who ever visited a dentist or not, practicing or not practicing oral hygiene, using tobacco or not, those with diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension or without these conditions. Nearly 80% of the patients felt no requirement for dental treatment.

Despite adherence to oral hygiene practices, the oral health status of patients admitted to medical/surgical wards was poor.

Avasthi A, Sogi GM, Veeresha KL. Oral Health Status and Treatment Needs of Inpatients at a Medical College Hospital in Haryana. J Postgrad Med Edu Res 2018;52(1):5-11.