Readiness for the aging population in private dental practices

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Dentistry
• Dental Hygiene Practice
• Dementia Care

Background:

• Increasing number of older adults retain natural teeth.
• Growing need for specialized dental care for seniors and individuals with dementia.
• Limited understanding of current private practice accommodations for these populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess dental hygienists' knowledge and practices regarding geriatric and dementia oral care.
• To identify areas for improved continuing education for dental hygienists.
• To understand the willingness of dental hygienists to adapt care for older adults and clients with dementia.

Main Methods:

• Survey distributed to 517 dental hygienists in New Brunswick, Canada.
• Respondents rated knowledge, willingness for education, and care adjustments on 5-point scales.
• Data collected from 121 respondents (23.4% response rate).

Main Results:

• Dental hygienists expressed willingness to pursue further geriatric care education.
• Gaps identified in knowledge of medication effects and dementia-specific oral care techniques.
• Recommended geriatric care accommodations were not consistently implemented.

Conclusions:

• Geriatric and dementia oral care must be prioritized in dental hygiene education and practice.
• Continuing education should address specific knowledge gaps for older adults and dementia patients.
• Further research is needed on integrating accommodations and patient experiences in clinical settings.