Geriatric Oral Health Care in India: A Review

Oral health is not separate from general health but maintaining oral health is definitely difficult and different in old age. Even though few elderly have physical and/or mental situation that call for particular interest in the dental workplace one should not presume that all elderly community shares these circumstances. In order to achieve health it is necessary to know few aspects of old age. In due course of old age body tissues get harder collection of waste products in body cells and loss of lubrication leads to impaired functions of various organs. There is wide evidence that periodontitis is a risk factor for certain systemic diseases and impaired oral health has been associated with mastication and nutritional problems especially among the elderly with highly negative effects on their quality of life. Although a specific protocol must be tailored to meet the unique needs of the individual patient there are certain factors common to elderly segment of the population that may influence these protocols.