Common medical and dental problems in older adults

Abstract

Aim: The advancement of medicine has reduced the rate of mortality and hence the older adult population is increasing. Among the 7.7 billion world population in 2019, 1 in 11 people were at the age of 65 or more. The older adult population is expected to increase to 1 in 6 people by 2050. The degenerative changes in older adults become more severe with age and affect their medical condition. These degenerative changes together with chronic medical conditions and associated polypharmacy make them more vulnerable to oral diseases. The aim of this study is to give an overview of the common medical and dental problems and their impacts in older adults. Method: This study used the World Health Organization ’ s websites to review current global oral and systemic health issues and PubMed and Google Scholar databases to identify literatures on common medical and dental problems in older adults with no time restriction. Result: Studies generally reported that dental caries particularly root caries and periodontal disease are highly prevalent among older adults. In addition, edentulism, xerostomia, tooth wear, and head and neck cancer are also common in older adults. These oral diseases are often interrelated with their systemic problems. A meta-analysis reported diabetes increases the incidence and progression of periodontitis by 86%. A decrease in salivary output is common among older adults having polypharmacy. A review reported older adults with low stimulated salivary flow rate have 60% increased caries risk. Hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia, and depression complicate the delivery of dental treatment in older adults. Conclusion: With the increasing need of elderly dental care, dentists and other dental personnel should understand the interrelationship between oral and general health in order to provide a successful dental care plan for older adults.