GERIATRIC DENTISTRY: A NEGLECTED FIELD
Dr. Rohma Yusuf*, Dr. Yogesh Garg, Dr. Kamal Garg, Dr Sakshi Saxena, Dr. Saumya Dimri, Dr. Vandana Thockchom
ABSTRACT
Dental care for geriatric patients has been increasing nowadays. The treatment and diagnosis of geriatric patient is challenging, as these patient have both systemic and oral problem. There are systemic diseases with associated oral manifestations to which the patient is unaware of the condition. It can be diagnosed or speculated by the clinician after examination and investigation. Edentulousness and paucity of prosthodontic rehabilitation prevents the frail elders from choosing food that they like and refute them the pleasure of eating, which is prerequisite for a feeling of well-being. Oral mucosal diseases and lesions are common in elderly people. Lichenoid mucosal lesions can also be caused by a variety of medications commonly prescribed in older patients. The greatest challenge is to provide affordable, accessible, and equitable health care to this population. Oral health is an essential part of general health and affects physical and mental well-being and quality of life of elderly persons. To provide quality oral health care to the elderly, it is significant to focus on education in geriatric dentistry. This article reviews about the negligence shown towards frail elders on part of practicing dental surgeons. The article also reviews about systemic and oral changes in elderly patient and need to educate dental practitioners in providing geriatric dental care.
Keywords: Aging, Dental Caries, Elderly Care, Geriatric Population, Oral Health.
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