Geriatric Dentistry

Introduction

Life expectations of people have been noted with the increase in the number of people who are geriatric. This condition is regarded to be a normal, inevitable and a biological condition or phenomenon. Study of physical and psychological changes which are mostly inclined to old age is known as gerontology and the care to the old age is called the clinical gerontology or simply geriatrics. Geriatric dentistry can similarly be defined as giving dental care to the elderly through diagnosis, the preclusion and the management of the issues which are related with the ordinary aging and also age-related infections as a part of the interdisciplinary team inclusive of other stake holders in healthcare industry (Holm-Pedersen et al,. 2015). Most governments in the world have specifically set the ages for the aged and those presumed to be aged in different categories. In some parts mostly the underdeveloped country, individuals who are 60 years and above of age are regarded as the elderly. The developed countries regard individuals who are 65 and above years of age as elderly (Anil et al., 2016). Worldwide, there are approximately over 600 million people who are 60 years and above and the number is considered to have risen by the year 2025.

The geriatric health in the world is one of the areas of health which are ignored and in most cases under-explored. The oral health gives a reflection to the welfare of the old population in the world. Aged patients are mostly inclined to the verbal situations in relation to their age and the ailments inclusive of some functional changes which might affect them in the process (Holm-Pedersen et al, 2015). Some of the major challenges which affect the practicing of the geriatric dentistry are the lack of a trained member, the system is overcrowded and the main one being the monetary constraints. For a quality and a successful treatment, practitioners have to adopt an approach that is humanitarian and in the act develop an understanding in terms of the attitude and the feelings of the elderly.

Early intervention and prevention strategies have to be formulated in order to lessen the risks of these verbal complications in the elderly inhabitants. Currently, professionals in the dental section have to possess a better perceptive of the level of the types of services which are to be offered in the aged population (Anil et al., 2016). This possibility can only be realized if there is an educational program subjected to the society without a delay in the geriatric dentistry.   

Xerostomia or the dry mouth condition is very common amongst the elderly individuals and is mostly associated with the decreased amount of the salivary gland function. The causes of the xerostomia in the elderly population have been inclined with the continued use of medicines, the chronic disorders, and radiotherapy to the neck and head regions. Patients who are diagnosed with the chronic xerostomia can have more than one oral or dental effect like the periodontal diseases, dental caries, ill-fitting dentures, fungal infections and the alterations of tastes (Gil Montoya et al., 2015). Xerostomia can have a serious effect on the quality of life and also alter a person’s eating style, the speech and also during swallowing. The current therapeutics in the management of the xerostomia is basically grouped as systemic and local salivary stimulation.

Polypharmacy

This is generally a practice of describing four and above medications to the same individuals. This in most cases happens to the older individuals who are affected by diseases. The known hazards of giving such medication include the cause of secondary morbidity due to prescribing inappropriate and unnecessary drugs and medicine incompatibility. The problems can also develop when the patients possess a poor understanding of the goal of their medicine and how to take the prescribed medicine. There are challenges which are related to the physiological changes which alter the ways that a drug is handled by the body (Gil Montoya et al., 2015). Polypharmacy in most cases happens due to multiple pathology poor communication between the providers of health care, lack of knowledge on aging and computerized records which are not updated accordingly. The older people can generally benefit from the many kinds of medicines today but the adverse effects and the side reactions of these medicines can jeopardize their health.

Brain conditions

Taking care of the dental part of the body is very essential. If a person does not take care of the teeth they turn yellow and they physically become painful which will ultimately lead to very many visits to the dentist. Most of these conditions are underestimated by many individuals and it is a dangerous alternative (Anil et al., 2016). The brain is also connected to the teeth and if there is an issue with the brain, then the problem will also affect the teeth and vice verse. The aged people experience memory loss in most cases and when this happens the body can shut down the many parts that depend on the brain. The loss of memory will eventually lead to a lack of concern and unknowingly cause other major issues to the body. People with few teeth are regarded to have a very poor memory (Gil Montoya et al., 2015). As a person becomes old, their teeth tend to become weak and fall off and in some people, they protrude outwards causing a discomfort during eating or brushing and in most cases, duties such as brushing are neglected.

Dentures

A high-quality diet is vital in the improvement and also the preservation of good and strong teeth. Fit teeth are very essential in assisting in the eating of healthy and assorted diet over the phase of a person. Geriatric clients are associated with a steadily increase in the dental services which involve a number of individuals requiring a detailed and complete denture. In America, it is estimated that over 50% of the people who are 65 years and above do were some form of dentures either completely or partially. Many reasons can affect an individual’s probability of wearing the dental prosthesis. One of the reasons is for a maximized taste and the texture sensation due to the covering of the palate. A big percentage of the people wearing the dentures start to develop sores which are very painful (Gil Montoya et al., 2015). For either a complete or a partial denture, a person must undergo a regimented dental protocol in order to ensure that it is appropriate for a laboratory test to a clinical test.

Conclusion

The general and oral health is basically a fundamental right in human beings. Oral health of a person determines the general health of a person and the general health with physically determine the happiness in the lifetime of a person (Holm-Pedersen et al, 2015). Good health is obtained from having a healthy diet and maintaining healthy teeth in the process.

 

 

 

References

Anil, S., Vellappally, S., Hashem, M., Preethanath, R. S., Patil, S., & Samaranayake, L. P. (2016). Xerostomia in geriatric patients: a burgeoning global concern. Journal of investigative and clinical dentistry, 7(1), 5-12.

Gil Montoya, J. A., Ferreira de Mello, A. L., Barrios, L., González Moles, M. Á., & Bravo Pérez, M. (2015). Oral health in the elderly patient and its impact on general well-being: a nonsystematic review. 

Holm-Pedersen, P., Walls, A. W., & Ship, J. A. (Eds.). (2015). Textbook of geriatric dentistry. John Wiley & Sons.