Ageing Population and Geriatrics as a Dental Specialty
- The world's population is currently ageing, with the number and proportion of elderly people growing substantially.
- Life expectancy at birth has increased from 67.2 to 70.8 years between 2000-2005 and 2010-2015.
- By 2045-2050, life expectancy is projected to increase to 77 years.
- The population of people aged 60 and over is expected to more than double by 2050 globally.
- Geriatric dentistry is recognised as a specialty in Australia under the 'Special needs dentistry' category.
- Age-related problems and medication can make oral health diseases more serious and complicated to treat.
- Specialised and individualised treatment is required for geriatric patients.
- Ageing should be considered a natural and inevitable physiological process, not a disease.
- In the United Kingdom, geriatrics is not recognised as a specialty, but special care dentistry focuses on oral health conditions for people with impairments or disabilities.

The Geriatric Patient and Dental Health of Geriatric Population
- Elderly individuals can be classified into different age groups: young-old (65-74), middle-old (75-84), and oldest-old (≥ 85).
- Frail elderly patients have chronic physical, medical, and emotional problems and require assistance from others.
- Functionally dependent elderly patients are unable to maintain independence and may be homebound or institutionalised.
- Classifying geriatric patients based on their ability to seek dental care independently is more useful for diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Support services are often needed for the majority of frail elderly patients living in the community.
- The geriatric population has rapidly changing dental needs.
- In developed countries, it is predicted that more than 25% of the population will be over the age of 65 by 2020.
- The rate of edentulism (tooth loss) has decreased due to improvements in oral health.
- Geriatric patients often have high levels of plaque, calculus, and debris, leading to increased caries prevalence.
- Gingival recession and periodontal disease are common among older adults.

Medical Conditions affecting Oral Health
- Physiological changes in the geriatric population, such as decreased efficiency in gastrointestinal, renal, cardiovascular, respiratory, and immune systems, impact oral health.
- Reduced bone and muscle mass, along with conditions like osteoarthritis, can affect mobility.
- Audio and visual changes, such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and hearing loss, make communication and oral health care challenging.
- Common chronic conditions in the elderly include hypertension, arthritis, heart disease, cancers, and diabetes.
- Dementia, depression, hearing loss, cataracts, back and neck pain, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are also prevalent in the geriatric population.

Oral Changes and Dentures
- Tooth loss
- Dental caries
- Periodontitis
- Dry mouth
- Oral cancer
- Changes to Saliva
- Changes to the Oral Mucosa
- Changes to the Teeth
- Ageing and Periodontal Disease
- Dentures and Edentulism

Dental care in residential aged care facilities and Barriers to effective cleaning
- Elderly in residential care have poor oral health
- Dependence on staff for oral hygiene care
- Oral health requirements often overlooked
- Lack of oral health policies and education for care staff
- Need for regular onsite professional dental care
- Difficulty accessing dental care for frail and disabled elderly
- Limited mobility and cognitive impairment affect access to dental care
- Increased risk of oral health problems due to health problems or disabilities
- Cognitive impairment leads to uncooperative behavior
- Functional limitations and swallowing difficulties affect oral care