Clinician's Guide to Oral Health in Geriatric Patients

Course Outline

Thank you for the purchase of the AAOM monograph, Clinician’s Guide to Oral Health in Geriatric Patients. The third edition of the American Academy of Oral Medicine Oral Health in Geriatric Patients provides an updated and concise summary of the influence of aging, and systemic disease, and its treatment on oral health. This guide is designed for oral health practitioners to be used in their pratices as an adjunct in the care of their older patients. It is important for clinicians to reliably recognize, diagnose, and treat oral conditions in the elderly, as well as be aware that aging and systemic diseases and their treatments can influence oral health and function. This guide also provides a summary of the etiology, clinical appearance, and treatment of common oral conditions that affect older populations. Topical and systemic drug regimens are provided for the management of common oral disorders. Finally, recommendations are provided on the use of pharmacotherapeutic regimens in the elderly since drug absorption, distrubution, metabolism, and excretion are altered in the elderly, and older adults are at risk for adverse drug reactions. The appendix includes selected websites and additional readings/references for those clinicians who are interested in learning more about oral health topics in older adults.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course you’ll be able to:

  1. Describe the geriatric population.
  2. List common age-related problems and changes in the teeth.
  3. Discuss oral and systemic effects of periodontal diseases.
  4. List the problems of salivary hypofunction.
  5. Describe the smell and taste functions of the elderly.
  6. Discuss the subjective, objective, assessment, and treatment plan.
  7. Describe the mnemonic OSCAR.
  8. Discuss periodontal diseases.
  9. List the risk factors for caries formation.
  10. Describe a chemical ulceration.
  11. Discuss angular cheilitis.
  12. Describe candidiasis.
  13. Describe the burning mouth syndrome.
  14. Describe treatment for xerostomia.
  15. State the etiology of oral and pharyngeal cancer.
  1. Define orthostatic hypotension.
  2. Discuss the various stages of hypertension.
  3. Describe clinical findings of angina and myocardial infarction.
  4. Discuss dental and oral care for the patient with congestive heart failure.
  5. List clinical findings of a "minor stroke."
  6. Discuss oral care for the diabetic patient.
  7. List oral clinical findings when liver disease is present.
  8. List recommendations for oral care for the Alzheimer’s patient.
  9. Discuss oral care for the patient with Parkinson’s disease.
  10. List oral care considerations for the patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
  11. List several methods to improve medication compliance.
  12. List several nutritional deficiencies that have oral sequelae.

Course Contents

  1. Oral Medicine and Geriatrics
  2. Treatment Planning for the Geriatric Patient
  3. Guide to Treatment of Common Geriatric Oral Conditions
  1. Dental Treatment Guidelines for Common Geriatric Conditions
  2. Prescribing Medications for the Geriatric Patient
  3. Nutrition and Oral Health in the Geriatric Patient