A compendium of objectives for geriatric dentistry

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Geriatric Dentistry
• Public Health

Background:

• The oral health needs of the aging population are increasing.
• Specialized training in geriatric dentistry is crucial for addressing these needs.
• Current educational models for geriatric dentistry require evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and prioritize competencies for geriatric dentists.
• To determine the optimal educational settings for acquiring these competencies.
• To inform the integration of geriatric dentistry into dental curricula.

Main Methods:

• A two-phase survey was administered to 82 experts in geriatric dentistry.
• Phase 1 involved listing essential competencies for geriatric dentists.
• Phase 2 involved rating the importance of 150 competencies across five educational settings.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive list of geriatric dentistry competencies was developed.
• Competencies were prioritized based on their relevance to different educational levels.
• Significant overlap was found between general and specialized geriatric dental skills.

Conclusions:

• Geriatric dentistry should be integrated into general dental education.
• A core set of competencies is essential for all dentists treating older adults.
• Fewer competencies are exclusively required for specialized geriatric dental practitioners.