Are you getting Older or Younger? Do you have more patients over 50 or under 50? How many of them want to keep their teeth for life? Life expectancy is increasing and fertility rates are declining. Older adults make up one of the fastest-growing segments of the world population. No matter the age, we and our patients still feel like and want to live like our younger selves with our teeth fully functional. The goal of this course is to provide the participant with an understanding of prevalent oral conditions and concerns affecting older patients. This course includes assessment strategies and therapies to manage these prevalent conditions and help patients maintain his/her teeth for a lifetime. Topics include gingivitis, xerostomia, erosion, caries and dentin hypersensitivity.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the physiologic changes in the aging dentition in relation to the oral and dental diseases
- Describe the relationship between oral inflammation and systemic conditions
- Understand how to determine the dental future of the older adult
- Discuss prevention strategies in managing the oral health of older adults in the dental office
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