title: Aging and oral health for the 21st century.
abstract: Americans' oral health, along with their life expectancy, has improved dramatically during the 20th century. The 21st century offers dental professionals the opportunity to help patients maintain their oral health for a lifetime. This article describes trends in health and wellness among older adults that will affect use of dental services; reviews risk factors such as chronic diseases, medications, and nursing home placement that will increase oral diseases in older adults; and concludes with opportunities for dental leadership to improve the oral health of aging Americans.
authors.affiliation: DENTSPLY International, 570 West College, York, PA 17405, USA.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Niessen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009909:Oral Health; D014481:United States