FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 2000
CONTACT:Jann Ingmire[email protected]
Fred Peterson[email protected]
McCormick Place Convention Center (Rm. 115)Chicago, Illinois
312/791-6625 or312/440-2806 (ADA)
Aging Population Has Changing Oral Health Needs
CHICAGO -- One very noticeable difference between older people today and those of a generation ago is simply the fact that now more of them have their natural teeth. "As recently as 1960, more than two-thirds of people over the age of 75 had no teeth, and now only about one-third of older people are without teeth," states Kenneth Shay, D.D.S., M.S., Section Chief for Dental Geriatrics at the Ann Arbor, MI, Veterans Administration Medical Center.
Dr. Shay will be lecturing on "Dental Treatment Considerations for the Older Patient" on Saturday, October 14, 2000, at the American Dental Association's (ADA) 141st Annual Session, McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago.
Treating today's older patient involves much more restorative, conservative and preventive care of the existing teeth instead of the traditional dentures or extraction of teeth that many dentists were taught that older patients would need, according to Dr. Shay.
"Teeth go through life, too, and they age just like the rest of the body," Dr. Shay explains. "The nerves in older people's teeth are smaller, their sensitivity to certain stimuli is actually less, and the ability of the teeth to be restored as successfully by some of our dental techniques cannot be assumed the way it can for younger patients."
Dr. Shay says patients should provide a complete medical history to the dentist. "The medical conditions of patients and their medical treatments may have an impact on their oral health and on their ability to withstand treatment. With older patients, dentists and the dental team may need to take special care to make the dental visit as comfortable as possible." That may mean adjusting the lighting, or not fully reclining the dental chair because a patient may have blood pressure problems or arthritic conditions in the neck.
Dr. Shay says it's important to respect the older patient's wishes and not to assume they would rather have a tooth extracted than saved, just because of their age. "For many older people, the thought of walking around missing a tooth is as unpleasant to them as walking around missing a limb." As with any patient, the dentist is there to offer treatment options and discuss the relative costs and benefits.
As patients age, many need assistance with their daily personal care. "A number of studies have suggested that effectively brushing your teeth and taking care of your oral health is probably more complicated than, for example, taking a bath, in terms of difficulty," Dr. Shay comments. "As dentists watch their patients aging, they may want to involve another family member or someone else the patient identifies who might be able to help the patient with the daily care of their teeth, if needed." Dr. Shay says the assistance may only be to remind the older person to brush their teeth, or to take the top off the toothpaste tube, or it might be to actually brush their teeth for them.
Dr. Shay adds that patients who may have impaired judgment, such as those with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, may need assistance in making decisions about their oral health care at the dentist's office, as well as needing assistance with their home care.
The ADA says good oral hygiene and regular dental care are important throughout your life, whatever your age. Dentists are increasingly sensitive to the special needs and the importance of dental health in the older patient. For more information about the American Dental Association's (ADA) position on this and other health issues, visit the ADA Web site at www.ada.org.
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