Geriatric dentistry or gerodontics is the delivery of dental care to older adults or the elderly. It involves the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of problems associated with normal aging and age related oral diseases.
Common Oral Problems of Elderly
Commonly encountered dental health problems in senior adults are as follows:
- Dental Decay
- Gum Diseases
- Stomatitis
- Glossitis
- Tooth Wear & Excessive Staining
- Dry Mouth
- Loss or alteration in Taste
- Missing Teeth
- Dentures getting repeatedly loose.
As a person grows old, teeth show signs of wear and tear, gums recede, soft moist oral mucous membrane sometimes looks more rough, dry and at times fibrous. There are several changes that may occur as the person grows old. These may relate to clinical changes like wearing of teeth, root decay, gum diseases, discoloration of teeth etc. Apart from clinical changes there may be cellular changes that may have their impact on the teeth. Old age may also bring about changes in drug metabolism that may have its oral side effects such as dry mouth, changes in tastes, oral ulcerations, gingival bleeding etc. Oral tissues can undergo considerable change as a result of advancing age. Reactions of common diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular and liver diseases, gastrointestinal diseases etc to name only a few, have their effect in oral cavity.
There are some problems which adult patients have to face other than the dental conditions mentioned above. Most of the geriatric patients may be under treatment for various ailments like cardiovascular diseases, blood pressure, depression, gastric disorders etc. The medications that they receive for these conditions have side effects on teeth, gums and other tissues in the mouth e.g. dryness of mouth as a result of anti depressant drugs. In view of their altered lifestyle, geriatric patients need special attention. Impairment of memory, change in anxiety behaviors, sleep disturbance, depression, and disorientation are a few conditions which need consideration when dental treatment is planned. Their economic status is also required to be considered.