Dentistry and Elderly Patients Flashcards
What are the two groups of elderly patients?
‘Healthy’
‘Frail’
How do you treat healthy elderly patients ?
As if they were young patients with chronic disease
When is someone defined as frail?
When they have 2 or more of
- current depression
- dementia
- history of falls
- 1 or more unplanned admission in past 3 months
- unable to walk without aid
- bed bound for > 4 days
- incontinent
Why is the oral health worsened in older patients?
Due to access to service
Income
Feeling nothing can be done
What can lead to loss of manual dexterity and mobility?
Neurological disease such as stroke and parkinson
Rheumatological disease such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
What are the causes of dementia?
Alzheimers
Multi infarct
Lewy body
Other
What is dementia?
Global loss of brain function
How is dementia diagnosed?
Take history
Exam
Test of cognition
Investigations
Treatment for dementia?
Mainly non pharmacological / supportive
Delay not cure
Symptom control
What is delirium?
Acute confusional state
What are the predisposing factors of delirium?
Frail body - age - multi morbidity - advanced illness - malnutrition Frail mind - age - stroke - dementia - depression
In relation to diet, what do 10% of elderly people have?
Protein energy malnutrition
What do trends indicated about tooth loss?
That it tends to occur in socio-economically deprived areas
What are some reasons for increased tooth retention?
Improved awareness of OH
Improved access to care
OH promotion
Fluoride tooth pastes, MWs and water supply
What are some conditions that can cause erosion that are not diet related?
Alcohol abuse
Hiatus hernia
Duodenal ulceration
Certain medications
