Medico-social Aspects of Dental Care for Geriatric Patients
Nina Musurlieva
Department of Social Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Public health, Medical University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Tanya Bozhkova *
Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Geriatric patients are a specific group because of their susceptibility to physiological, psychological, social, and health-related problems. Uncovering the modern character of a geriatric patient, the specifics of aging in a bio-psycho-social aspect, additional medical qualifications, and acquisition of competence bettering healthcare for these patients is necessary when taking into consideration the persisting tendency for demographic aging. The objective of this study is to outline the general medico-social aspects of dental care for geriatric patients. A comprehensive literature search was conducted, mainly using PubMed and Embase, which was limited to publications written in English over the past 10 years (2010–2020). Oral health is an essential topic in geriatric preventive medicine, with direct as well as indirect effects on the overall health and quality of life of the individual. Surveillance and improvement of the oral health of the elderly should be a key objective of the multidisciplinary team responsible for their care, including dentists, dental hygienists, geriatricians, and caregivers.
Keywords: Oral health, geriatric patients