Dental Care for the Elderly

Abstract

The geriatric population in many parts of the United States is underserved by dentistry. Socioeconomic problems, difficult access to dental facilities, and confusion about the need for dental care often prevent the elderly from seeking dental service. Because dental diseases are not life threatening or outwardly disabling, administrators of institutions for the elderly and health legislators place a low priority on dental care for the elderly. These factors working in concert with the insidious, progressive, and cummulative nature of denture diseases contribute to the poor dental health experienced by some segments of the geriatric population. Dentistry has the manpower and the technology to improve the oral health of the elderly, but society must be made aware of the importance of dental health in the total health of elderly persons in order that dentistry be given a chance to achieve that goal.

Self‐Assessed General Health and Dental Status Among the Elderly in a Swedish County

“…Still the majority of elderly people-women more frequently than men-use drugs regularly ISvanborg, 1977;Official Statistics of Sweden, 1985]. For reviews, see Nordenram and Bohlin 11985] and Ley and Langsjoen [1985]. For reviews, see Nordenram and Bohlin 11985] and Ley and Langsjoen [1985].…”

“…The results from various studies indicate that institutionalized elderly people have poorer oral health status than those living at home. For reviews, see Nordenram and Bohlin 11985] and Ley and Langsjoen [1985].…”

Ethics as an Important Determinant of Success of Orthopaedic Dental Care for Debilitated and Elderly Patients

“…Professional dentists should take part in research with the aim to define and develop the most important psychological and motivational techniques which then could be included in the curriculum of dental students [23]. Dental care for elderly patients should be given higher priority in the spheres of administrative activities, in practical work and in education [45].…”

Care Needs of the Elderly Treated at a Dental School1

“…Among the many reasons for this lack of consistency has been a deficiency in guidelines for providing dental care to the aged [Borman, 1979]. Ley and Langsjoen [1985] state that treatment of the elderly must be delivered with an understanding of the age process and they urge that dental care for this age group receive higher priority in education than it has in the past. An understanding of patients' psychologic and socioeconomic experiences during the aging process will be essential in the future prac-tice of dentistry.…”