Education for geriatric oral health promotion

Dentate older adults need to be aware that restorative procedures completed in the past do not guarantee their oral health now or in the future. By building on the strengths of their current behaviors, the elderly may see change as more manageable and may accept it more readily. Educational approaches aimed at the edentulous older patient should focus on the need for preventative oral health care. Thirty thousand new cases of oral cancer are reported each year, and of those, 50% are in patients above the age of 65. Progressive bone resorption, decreased nutritional intake, and poor oral health affecting self-esteem to the point of withdrawal from social circles can all be avoided through periodic assessment and timely intervention. All health care professionals must be educated in the role that are required of them as health team members. Initial exams of elderly patients should include assessment of not only the patient's oral health but also his/her ability to perform oral hygiene. An accurate assessment of the patient's needs, desires, and abilities will help to eliminate many of the misconceptions that the care provider may harbor. Clinical training in more thorough oral exams and in methods of effectively educating patients concerning oral health is a prudent step for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and nurse practitioners. Effective educational presentations must be tailored to the targeted group of older adults; not all strategies will work for all elderly people.