Oral health in Dementia: Clinical Update
Girgis, Eriny Mishriky, Raafat Antoun Reyad, Ayman
Girgis, Eriny
Mishriky, Raafat
Antoun Reyad, Ayman
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Affiliation
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust; Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar; University of Wolverhampton
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Publication date
2024-10
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Abstract
Dementia is a progressive and debilitating neurodegenerative condition leading to a negative impact on older people’s quality of life and daily activities. Recently, there is interest in the bidirectional association between dementia and poor oral health. Research suggests higher incidence of gingivitis, plaque, periodontitis, mucosal lesions, reduced salivary flow and tooth loss in patients with dementia. Maintaining good oral health is visionary with disease progression and challenging behaviors. Good oral health could be achieved through appropriate oral care advice and education to carers/families with regular professional dental care. Standards of living are improving with increased life expectancy leading to an ageing population (1) which constitutes a risk factor for dementia, with a huge economic and social burden. Family members are negatively impacted, especially with disease progression and behavioral changes (2). Dementia is characterized by progressive cognitive impairment. Patients suffering from dementia usually present with dental conditions influenced by their impaired self-care, polypharmacy, co-existing morbidity, malnutrition, xerostomia, dysphasia, and dysphagia (2). Recent research suggested that dementia patients have higher incidence of caries, retained roots, and orofacial pain (3). There is increased risk of plaque, gingival bleeding, periodontal pockets, xerostomia, reduced salivary flow, stomatitis and oral lesions (3).
Citation
Girgis, E., Mishriky, R. and Antoun Reyad, A. (2024) Oral health in dementia: clinical update. Arabian Journal of Older Adults Mental Health Disorders, October 2024.
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Article