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08:47
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Common oral conditions in older persons
Wanda C Gonsalves1, A Stevens Wrightson, Robert G Henry
1Dept. of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. gonsalvw@musc.edu
American Family Physician
|October 10, 2008
Summary
Older adults face oral health risks like infections and dry mouth. Primary care physicians play a key role in assessing oral health, recognizing changes, and referring patients to dentists for better senior oral hygiene.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Oral Health
- Preventive Care
Background:
- Older adults are susceptible to chronic oral diseases, including dental infections (caries, periodontitis), tooth loss, mucosal lesions, and oral cancer.
- Common conditions include xerostomia (dry mouth) and oral candidiasis, potentially leading to thrush, denture stomatitis, or angular cheilitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the oral health risks in older populations.
- To outline the role of primary care physicians in managing senior oral health.
- To suggest strategies and aids for maintaining oral hygiene in elderly patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of common oral conditions in older adults.
- Emphasis on risk assessment and recognition of age-related oral changes.
- Discussion of referral pathways to dental professionals.
- Identification of assistive oral health devices.
Main Results:
- Older persons are prone to dental infections, tooth loss, and xerostomia.
- Xerostomia can be managed with saliva substitutes.
- Primary care physicians can significantly impact oral health outcomes through examination and referral.
- Adaptive devices can aid oral hygiene for those with chronic conditions.
Conclusions:
- Proactive oral health management is crucial for older adults.
- Primary care physicians are vital in the early detection and management of oral health issues in the elderly.
- Accessible oral health aids can improve quality of life for seniors with disabilities.
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