Delivering the evidence--skill mix and education for elder care

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Dentistry
• Dental Education
• Public Health

Background:

• The oral healthcare of the aging population faces a looming crisis.
• Increased life expectancy is not matched by a growth in trained dental providers for geriatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current dental elder care curricula.
• To assess the impact of curricula on practitioner behavior.
• To address the needs of the growing North American elder population.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing dental curricula.
• Analysis of the effectiveness of elder care training.
• Evaluation of practitioner behavioral changes.

Main Results:

• Current dental curricula are insufficient for geriatric care.
• Existing training may not adequately alter practitioner behavior towards elder care.
• A gap exists between the needs of the aging population and dental provider preparedness.

Conclusions:

• Dental education requires significant changes in geriatric patient management.
• Clinical education must include sufficient quality experiences for competency and positive attitudes towards treating the elderly.
• An interprofessional approach is necessary to manage complex geriatric patients in various settings.