Geriatric Dentistry

Education in geriatric medicine is in its infancy in India and geriatric dentistry is non-existent. Poor oral health is linked to serious systemic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Edentulousness and paucity of prosthodontic rehabilitation prevent the elderly from choosing food that they like and deny them the pleasure of eating, which is essential for a feeling of wellbeing. A functional dentition plays an essential role in mastication, deglutition, phonation, facial aesthetics and expression, dietary selection, and the hedonic aspect of eating. Until recently, the loss of all teeth was considered a normal part of aging. However, despite the decline in tooth loss over the last 30 years, the prevalence of edentulism among the elderly population is still quite high. Elderly patients, unlike their younger counterparts, experience additional risk factors for oral diseases and conditions.