Reflections on changes in geriatric dentistry

Abstract

The development of geriatric dental education programs in the United States and at the University of Iowa over the last twenty years is reviewed. The program at Iowa evolved from a didactic elective program taught by a single faculty person to required didactic and clinical programs that include a special care clinic in the dental school and a mobile unit with portable equipment serving ten area nursing homes with comprehensive care. Factors influencing the curriculum development are identified and discussed, and as no dental schools are the same, some general applications are suggested from the Iowa experience.

Undergraduate teaching in gerodontology in Austria, Switzerland and Germany

“…In Switzerland, two of four universities have a department or division that has a name containing ‘gerodontology’ or ‘geriatric dentistry’ but this is only the case in one out of 31 German universities. In contrast Scandinavia, England and the USA also have a higher prevalence of departments who are specially devoted to Geriatric or Special Care Dentistry 6 .…”

Development of undergraduate gerodontology courses in Austria, Germany and Switzerland 2004‐2014

“…Increasing demand for postgraduate courses in gerodontology by dental practitioners has led to a number of such courses being offered in Great Britain, the United States, and Scandinavia 31 . In Germany, postgraduate curricula are on offer, often organized by the specialist association of gerodontology in cooperation with regional chambers of dentists and university lecturers.…”

Development of a Gerodontology course in Athens: a pilot study

“…A current gerodontology course should be based on these concepts. The key to success in Geriatric dentistry is learning to work with patients and their carers to develop treatment plans compatible with the individual needs of the patient (2). A patient‐centred philosophy of treatment is expected.…”

“…These patients have a wide range of dental needs. They have more natural teeth than in the past and often a complicated medical history, causing additional problems in their dental management (1–3). Therefore, appropriate emphasis on geriatric education is expected to be provided by dental schools.…”

“…In 2001, 98% of US dental schools required didactic teaching in geriatric dentistry and all schools taught at least some aspects on the topic (6). However, whilst utilisation of dental services by the elderly is increasing in the USA (2, 6), a significant proportion of graduating dental surgeons in US dental schools feel that they have been insufficiently trained in gerodontology and feel unprepared for practice (7). Geriatric dental education is limited in Australia (8), whilst in Europe it varies considerably.…”