Dental considerations in older adults attending the primary care clinic

Abstract

<p><em>Oral health is part of our general health. Older adults attending the primary care medical clinic often require dental care as well. Many of them present with dental caries, periodontal diseases and tooth-loss due to worsened physical health and other cumulative damage brought by previous dental diseases. The elderly patients may also be suffering from systemic diseases and/or conditions which may have direct impact on their dental conditions. This article draws the attention of physicians, who are treating their older patients, to major dental diseases as well as the interactions between systemic diseases and/or other medical conditions with their dental conditions. Therefore, dental and medical professionals should work closely together to provide collaborative patient care. <strong>Keywords:</strong> Older adults, dental diseases, primary care</em><br></p>