Oral health concerns of the 'Sunset Age'

Abstract

The steady increase of the greying population globally is causing a demographic transition. Oral health intricately associated with an individual's general health and overall well-being is evolving with ageing. The ageing population has diverse and complex dental needs, which are challenging to achieve. This review aims to compile information and evidence available in the literature about geriatric oral health concerns and care, which will be immensely useful for medical professionals, geriatric physicians and dental clinicians while treating elderly patients. This review includes different aspects of oral health, namely: dentate elderly and associated oral health concerns, edentulous elderly and associated oral health concerns, biological changes in the oral mucosa with ageing, geriatric oral health and systemic diseases, geriatric oral health and falls, geriatric oral health concerns and depression, comprehensive geriatric care and need of the hour.

Keywords

• biological ageing
• depression
• geriatrics
• oral health
• systemic diseases