title: [Oral health in dementia patients].
abstract: Dementia shares multiple clinical symptoms characterized by cognitive deficits that interfere with daily activities but differentiated by etiology. Advanced age is a major risk factor for dementia especially in more developed countries where older adults are most evident and growing rapidly. Since the prevalence of edentulism is decreasing, greater efforts will be necessary in the future to maintain oral health in dementia patients. Meeting the oral care needs of these individuals can be very challenging and should include prevention, maintenance of oral function and improved access for emergencies as well as regular dental care. Dental professionals should provide complex treatment utilizing appropriate behavioral and communication techniques. At the national level there is also a need for oral disease prevention programs directed towards staff, family members, and other caregivers of dementia patients.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Dental Ecology, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adut
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adut
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berkey
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D003142:Communication; D003704:Dementia / Q000503:physiopathology; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009909:Oral Health; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control