GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRIC DENTISTRY

Catalog description

The geriatric dentistry course examines topics imperative for the successful provision of oral health care in the elderly. The course covers aging demographics, a comprehensive exploration of oral health promotion in this population, and an in -depth exploration of the behavioral, psychological, and ethical implications of working with the old adult/geriatric patient. Furthermore, the course explores the anatomic -physiological differences of the elderly patient, the molecular basis of aging to provide a progressive understanding o f the most prominent pathophysiological anomalies, and the implications of oral disease in the patient’s systemic health associated with aging. The course emphasizes the assessment and understanding of the latest epidemiological advancements of systemic d iseases. It explores oral healthcare in the elderly to guide promotion and preventive actions to this growing and aging population. The student learns to make appropriate diagnoses and generate dental treatment plans according to the elderly's conditions, always looking for oral health to contribute to their physical and mental well-being, with an inclusive and diverse perspective.