Abstract:
Dental patients often suffer from dysphagia, or swallowing difficulty, which can have
a large impact on their quality of life and general health. There is strong association of
poor dental health, such as absence of teeth, caries and xerostomia with swallowing
difficulties. Older adults and those with compromised dental status are more likely to
have dysphagia.
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dysphagia among 177 dental
patients and ascertain the dentists’ perception of Speech and Language Therapists
(SLTs) in dysphagia management. This study was a mixed method design at Dhaka
Dental College and Hospital. The Swallowing Disturbance Questionnaire (SDQ) was
used to collect quantitative data, and semi structured interviews with dentists were
utilized to collect qualitative data.
Oral dysphagia was present in 67.2%, pharyngeal dysphagia in 14.1%, and overall
swallowing difficulty in 59.9%. Prevalence rates were higher in older participants,
those with xerostomia (26.6%), and in those using dental prostheses, confirming the
influence of age and dental health on swallowing function.
Qualitative findings indicated that dentists have large knowledge gaps about the roles
of SLTs. SLTs were mainly identified by dentists as being linked to speech care,
without recognition of their role in swallowing rehabilitation. However, they
understood that SLTs are essential in managing post-surgical recovery, GERD and
special needs patients. The barriers to effective collaboration were found in the absence
of referral pathways and lack of interdisciplinary frameworks.
The results of this study underscore the importance of interdisciplinarity in working in
partnership with SLT in improving the diagnosis, treatment and management of
dysphagia in patients attending for dental care. Closing knowledge gaps can be
achieved with structured training programs for providers, more effective
communication pathways and better awareness all of which should contribute to more
thorough and overall care of dental patients with dysphagia.
Keywords: Dysphagia, Dental Patients, Denture
Description:
This dissertation is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Speech and Language Therapy, Bangladesh Health Professions Institute, Faculty of Medicine, the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.