Oral Rehabilitation and Multidisciplinary Team Approach in Older Adult: A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Interprofessional Healthcare
• Oral Health

Background:

• Oral frailty and hypofunction in older adults are linked to poor nutrition, physical decline, and impaired swallowing.
• Isolated interventions are insufficient due to the complex biological, psychological, and social factors involved.
• Multidisciplinary approaches integrating oral care, nutrition, and rehabilitation show promise.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review evidence on multifaceted interprofessional interventions for oral frailty and hypofunction in older adults.
• To synthesize findings from studies across various care settings.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review of 15 studies identified through PubMed and Web of Science (2000-2025).
• Studies focused on oral, nutritional, or physical outcomes in older adults following interprofessional interventions.
• Data were integrated using narrative synthesis due to heterogeneity.

Main Results:

• Educational interventions improved oral hygiene and caregiver awareness.
• Rehabilitation and multidomain programs enhanced tongue pressure, swallowing, mastication, and daily activities.
• Nutrition support reduced aspiration risk and improved oral function.
• Community and home-care programs facilitated oral intake resumption, with 69% of tube-fed patients resuming oral intake in one study.

Conclusions:

• A triadic, interprofessional approach is recommended for geriatric care.
• Integrated oral, nutritional, and rehabilitative interventions consistently improve oral function in older adults.