It has been estimated that roughly three decades from now, senior citizens will comprise more than 20% of the US population. As the number of senior citizens in the country continues to rise, dentists are likely to see a correlating increase in the number of elderly patients seeking dental treatment. Consequently, dentists must be thoroughly prepared to meet the specific needs of these patients.
To provide an elderly patient with the most efficient treatment possible, a dentist must be cognizant of the inherent differences between an elderly patient and a younger one and the potential challenges an elderly patient poses. For example, an estimated 85% of senior citizens are afflicted with at least one chronic illness, while as many as 30% have three or more. Such ailments often have a direct impact on oral health, and vice versa. When treating an elderly patient, a dentist must be aware of such underlying health conditions and the potential correlation between them and the patient’s oral health. If a dentist can identify issues beyond the mouth that are affecting the patient’s oral health, then that dentist can more effectively treat the problems inside the mouth. Likewise, as a dentist treats an elderly patient, he or she should keep a constant lookout for problems inside the mouth than can potentially lead to other health-related issues.
"We see things in the mouth that could be related to other systemic problems," explained John C. Chandler, DDS, MAGD, of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). "If we identify those, we encourage patients to talk to their physicians about it."
Elderly patients generally have weaker immune systems than young ones, and their mouths produce less saliva. Such factors make the older patients more susceptible to dental diseases and the diseases potentially more difficult to control. Furthermore, with senior citizens taking an estimated average of six to ten different medications at once, there is a strong likelihood that an elderly patient is taking some form of medication, which can also impact oral health and further complicate treatment. A dentist must carefully review a patient’s medical history and should request to be provided with a list of any medications that a patient is currently taking.
Dentists should also strive to educate elderly patients on the importance of maintaining oral health and its potential impact on other aspects of their health. For example, many denture-wearers are under the false impression that their lack of real teeth removes the necessity of habitual dental visits – a notion that could not be farther from the truth. Dentists must be both patient and persistent when discussing such critical matters with elderly patients, who may sometimes have difficulty understanding or hearing their explanations. Dentists should also take careful note of even the most mundane of comments and complaints made by elderly patients, as they can often bear relevance to more significant issues. For example, a reference to dry mouth may actually indicate a side effect of medication.
Dentists must also pay heed to the often delicate physical state of elderly patients when treating them. Putting such patients in positions that place too much strain on their back or neck can potentially result in surprisingly serious injuries – and surprisingly large malpractice suits! A dentist should inquire before treating an elderly patient as to whether or not he or she has a history of back or neck problems.
As AGD spokesperson James W. Little, DMD, put it, "The reality is, there are going to be more and more older patients. It’s a matter of dentists getting used to older patients." |