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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

The teaching of geriatric dentistry in Canada.

Very little is known about the current status of geriatric training programs at Canadian universities because of the scarcity of information published on the subject. A study of the geriatric dentistry training programs offered by Canada's 10 dental schools has been completed. Its intent was to determine what type of educational activities in geriatric dentistry have either been offered in the past, are being offered now, will be offered in the next academic year, or are planned for the next five years. The results indicate that the 10 schools are doing very little in this regard. To keep pace with the level of geriatric dentistry training currently being offered in the United States, the dental profession must convince Canadian faculty members that the teaching of geriatric dentistry is crucial to both the undergraduate student and the graduate dentist. Continuing education in geriatric dentistry could be used to meet the oral health needs of our frail and dependent senior citizens. Geriatric dentistry must be taught at all levels of the profession so that this special clientele can receive the necessary treatment either within or outside of the dental office.

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PubMed1992

[Teaching of geriatric dentistry; training of "mobile dental service" dentists].

Quebec presently has 650,000 people over 65 years of age and as many as 900,000 will be alive at the beginning of the 21st century. Quebec epidemiological studies have shown that this group's dental condition is very poor. They feel no need to see a dentist, but 96% of them need treatment and the time elapsed since their last dental visit averages 13 years. It is forecasted that the dental needs of this group will rise, not only because of their increase in number but also because they will retain more teeth. Training in geriatric dentistry is presently deficient in the United States, Canada and particularly Quebec. Researchers have concluded, after studying the U.S. dental schools' current status of geriatric dentistry educational activities, that unless dental students receive training in geriatrics while at dental school, it is likely that they will not treat a lot of seniors in their practice. The teaching of geriatric dentistry is in full swing in the U.S. but knows a difficult birth in Quebec. There is no formal, extensive training program in geriatric dentistry given by the three dental schools in the province. Practicing geriatric dentistry requires special knowledge and skills. If treatment is to be successful, the practitioner must adopt a humanitarian approach and develop close relations and a better understanding of the feelings and attitudes of the elderly. The dentist must know and understand the special dental problems that makes them different from other groups.

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PubMedDate not supplied

An analysis of the supply of and demand for continuing education in geriatric dentistry.

Continuing education directors at 158 sites were surveyed regarding their recent experience with geriatric dentistry courses. Of the 116 returns cited, 86 recorded offering courses with a total enrollment of 4,559 students. The courses tended to be of the survey type using a lecture format. Most directors thought that practitioner demand for such courses fell short of their need for education. Several suggestions emanated from this project for improving course attendance. They included: targeting courses to specific clinical areas; providing separate courses for each segment of the geriatric population; and educating both elders and dentists regarding the appropriateness of dental care for the elderly patient.

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PubMed1990

[Cases of prosthodontic tissue reconditioning in geriatric dentistry].

In elderly patients, recurrent fractures of the lower denture must raise the question of a neurological deficit as cause of the occluso-prosthetic imbalance. Hypotonicity of the peri-oral mastication musculature, especially the masseters, may explain the alteration of the prosthetic supporting surface due to shriveling of the mandibular arch, along with an osseogenesis at the point of flexion of the mandible. The rest and activity muscular imbalance, resulting from unilateral mastication, may cause lingual dysfunction and deviation of the tongue at rest. If this problem is not controlled within an acceptable period of time, one should expect psychological, biological and physiological consequences affecting the patient's physical condition. The restoration of the denture fracture is insufficient. Reconditioning must be performed in order to replace the existing prosthesis in the patient's function, allowing him/her to recover a normal psychological, biological and physiological balance. In conclusion, in geriatric dentistry, the objective of reconditioning is, not only to restore a functional occlusion, but also the psychological, biological and physiological balance of the patient. This is an unvaluable advantage, especially if this contributes to maintain or restore an often precarious health.

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PubMed1991

Geriatric dentistry and prevention: research and public policy.

Changing demographics, including the increase in life expectancy and the growing numbers of elderly, has focused attention on the need for dental research activities to be expanded for geriatric dentistry. The elderly are at greater risk for oral disease, since gains in longevity result in more medically compromising conditions or systemic disease with oral manifestations. Also, as edentulism decreases and as more teeth are retained by the elderly, the pattern of oral diseases and the treatment of dental conditions will be altered. Barriers to self-care and professional care must be removed, and prevention and early intervention strategies must be formulated to reduce the risk of oral disease. Risk factors for oral diseases in the elderly can be reduced by personal home-care regimens, professionally provided preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic care, changes in high-risk behavior, and a supportive environment. Generating new information about the prevention of oral diseases and conditions that have an impact on the elderly requires a substantial research effort. A research agenda for the elderly should include: epidemiologic studies of relevant oral diseases and related risk factors; investigations of patient and provider attitudes and behavior related to oral health; studies of the relationship between general health and oral health; development and testing of preventive and treatment strategies for conditions such as xerostomia, root caries, secondary caries, and gingival recession; and studies for the evaluation of the impact of the aging population on the dental delivery system. Public policy options to support geriatric oral health care and research are limited by the Government's pre-occupation with cost containment and the lack of visibility for dental programs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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