Odontogeriatrics
What is Odontogeriatrics?
Odontogeriatrics is a discipline of dentistry that deals with the dental care of people over 65 years old. As the years go by, progressive wear of the teeth, greater weakness in the gums, and a loss of motor ability can occur, which often prevents proper dental brushing. Additionally, factors such as smoking, prolonged medication, or the use of prostheses cause a decline in dental health. For these reasons, a specialty was created within the field of dentistry that deals with diagnosing and designing effective treatments to preserve the dental health of older adults.
It is important to emphasize that these types of patients are more prone to suffer from other diseases that end up affecting dental health and vice versa; factors such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension are closely related to gum diseases and these bacteria present in the mouth, in turn, worsen the disease situation. Here is the importance of having a specialist who has the ability to assess all the above factors to diagnose correctly.
Finally, it is essential to visit the dental office regularly, as poor oral health can have an impact on overall health and quality of life. Poor oral health is a hindrance in oral functions and interpersonal relationships, which can physically and emotionally affect older adults. Prevention is key!
