The eleven reasons why dentist should study the geriatric dentistry

Choi,  Yong-Geun

J Korean Dent Assoc > Volume 49(10); 2011 > Article

The Journal of The Korean Dental Association 2011;49(10):584-598.
Published online October 31, 2011.

임상가를 위한 특집1 - 노년치의학을 배워야 하는 11가지 이유

최용근

고려대학교 임상치의학대학원

The eleven reasons why dentist should study the geriatric dentistry

Yong-Geun Choi

Korea University Graduate School of Clinical Dentistry

Abstract

The age structure has been experiencing substantial change due to the decreased birth rate as well as the increased life expectancy. Gorge Magnus, an English economist, casts warnings of population ageing which has the potential of huge socioeconomic impact human society has never experienced before. The prediction that proportion of elderly people in need of oral health care will increase substantially is a new challenge to dentists in the future. The old paradigm that the aged person is just the person who was born earlier and needs the same conventional oral health care should be shifted to the new one. Elderly people tend to express their political interest related with health care system by actively participating in the national elections. The need to sustain economic status for the extended life span makes them seek eagerly esthetic health care to maintain sound social function. Most of them are under multiple chronic diseases and take related medicines. In addition, many studies report about mental change as well as physical change among the aged people. Since the prevalence of dental diseases among the aged is higher than other chronic devastating diseases, the aged seeking oral health care will increase. The aged who has different physical and psychological status as well as chronic disease and related medicine will show unexpected response to the conventional oral health care. In addition, the impact of tooth loss is substantial physically, mentally and emotionally. Dentist should prepare different approaches for the elderly dental patient.

Key Words: Geriatric dentistry;New paradigm about dental patients;Dental geriatrician;