[The role of dentistry in the interdisciplinary team: contributing to comprehensive health care for the elderly].
This literature review focuses on dentistry's role in comprehensive health care for the elderly. The authors discuss the need for an interdisciplinary approach. They begin by analyzing the current situation in geriatric dentistry and related problems in Brazil, relating primarily to the lack of specific studies and human resources with training in geriatrics and gerontology. The authors emphasize interactions between dentistry and other health professions for health promotion, specific prevention, and rehabilitation of elderly patients, with special attention to the importance of communication and information exchange.
Shinkai
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RS
Departamento de Prótese e Periodontia, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Piracicaba, SP 13416-740, Brasil. rosemary_shinkai@yahoo.com
Del Bel Cury
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AA
D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000592:standards*; D005850:Geriatric Dentistry; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D000078329:Workforce