Alzheimer's disease and cognitively impaired elderly: providing dental care

With the number of adults reaching older ages, the number of Americans who develop Alzheimer's disease and other neurological impairments will also increase. The dental management of these patients requires a great deal of understanding and patience coupled with background knowledge of the disease and proficiency in providing behavior modification techniques. This paper discusses five major areas that dental practitioners should consider prior to caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease or other neurological impairments.