Prevention of oral disease for long-term care and homebound elderly

Despite the fact that many oral diseases afflicting the long-term care or homebound elderly are preventable or treatable, many older people do not seek available treatment, or their oral health care needs are not being met. The dental profession must, therefore, increase the preventative dental awareness of elders and make preventative and treatment services more accessible to this population. Interdisciplinary training and collaborative efforts among the dental profession, medical profession and caregivers are necessary in preventing oral disease for this geriatric population, which would improve not just oral health, but overall systemic health as well, thereby improving their quality of life.