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