Dental changes in Elder patients Geriatric patients are prone to wasting diseases of teeth such as attrition, abrasion, abfraction, and erosion. This is because of the fact that the teeth are functional for a long period of time. Periodontal inflammation, loss of attachment, missing teeth, edentulism, ill-fitting dentures, oral ulcerations, xerostomias, and oral carcinomas are some of the age-related changes. Further, root caries is other most common caries found in elderly patients. Habits and Oral implications Elderly patients have habits such as smoking, tobacco pan, and beetle nut chewing which leads to the formation of precancerous or cancerous lesions. Thus, combining both systemic and oral problems the immunity declines in elderly people. Elderly people in rural areas have a habit of tobacco and betel nut chewing as compared to the urban population necessitating the need of integrating primary health care with oral care in the rural population. Further, financial constraints and lack of family support or of transportation facilities affect access to dental services in later life. Thus the untreated oral cavity has its deleterious effects on comfort, esthetics, speech, mastication, and consequently, on quality of life in old age.
The goal of Geriatric dentistry
- To maintain the oral health of individuals.
- To maintain the ideal health and function of the masticatory system by establishing adequate preventive measures.
- In diseased patients maintaining oral and general health. Objectives of Geriatric dentistry
- To recognize and relieve difficulties of elderly people.
- Restoration and preservation of function for maintaining normal life in elderly patients.
Preventive measures for dental diseases Oral health care providers should educate patients regarding oral diseases and their prevention.
The five golden rules for preventive dental diseases in geriatric patients are given below:
- A well-balanced diet is the key to oral health and a body that is strong and free from diseases because nutrients available systemically will impact overall development, growth and maintenance of tooth structure, connective tissue, alveolar bone and oral mucosa.
- Don’t eat sweet or sticky foods between meals because high sugar diet have often been associated with caries so such intake should be restricted.
- Regular brushing after every meal or at least every meal at night which helps to keep teeth free of plaque and fight decay.
- Choose the right toothbrush that fits comfortably in hand and is easy to control. Massage your gums with your fingers after brushing and gently brush your tongue too.
- Visit your dentist regularly. Conclusion General and oral health is a fundamental right of a human being. The oral health of a patient determines the general health, and general health determines happiness in life that brings a smile. Good health is achieved by assimilation of a healthy diet and this further helps in maintaining the health of oral hard (teeth) and soft tissues.
