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Amy's Class Notes
on Gerodontic and Homebound Patients(1999)
I don't know if these will
help you out but just in case, I added them onto the site. These are just
notes that I took in class in different formats.
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Population of
elderly increasing rapidly in U.S. -- people live longer.
**by 2000, 13% are 65 or older.
**by 2030, 21% are 65 or older.
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only 5% of 65 or
older in a nursing home or hospital. 95% live at home.
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dental caries and
periodontal disease still cause the main reason for tooth loss in elderly.
General physical
characteristics:
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Decreased bone
mass -- bones thin out.
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Decreased basal
metabolism -- metabolism slows down, less need for calories.
-
Skin wrinkled,
dry, thin, pigmentation -- age spots.
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Reduced tolerance to temperature extremes.
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Decreased motor coordination.
-
Decreased muscle size and mass.
-
Decreased joint elasticity.
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Gastrointestinal changes.
-
Decreased cardiac output -- circulation
effected.
-
Postural hypotension.
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Decreased breathing capacity.
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Sensory loss -- hearing, vision, taste.
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Slower nervous system response.
Disease characteristics (tendencies) in
the elderly:
- Chronic physical and mental diseases
**Arthritis
**Alzheimers
- Arthritis
- Heart disease
- Hypertension
- Osteoporosis (degeneration of bones)
- Alzheimer's disease
- Diabetes
- Multiple conditions
- longer course of disease
- slower healing
**manifested orally also
Oral and Dental Characteristics (due to
aging or medications):
- angular chelitis (decrease in
vertical tension) -- can be due to vitamin deficiency.
- mucous membrane changes.
- hyperkeratosis.
- petechiae (lateral borders of tongue,
cheeks)
- glossitis
- sublingual varicosities
- xerostomia (check medications, check
for root caries, recession, emphasis on plaque control)
- burning mouth syndrome (can be
associated with xerostomia)
- Denture stomatitis (don't sleep with
it in, need to take it out sometime during the day -- **important to tell pt.
that denture will feel tight when put back in -- is normal)
- taste dysfunction
- tooth discoloration (occurs
naturally)
- Attrition and abrasion of teeth
- recession
- root caries (also known as retirement
caries)
- Perio disease -- lifetime history
- increased oral cancers -- based on
lifetime habits
- Sjogren's sydrome (debilitating pain
in mouth, dry membranes, arthritis)
- erythema multiforme (medication
induced)
- Lichen planus (medication induced)
- Candidiasis (medication induced)
- Black Hairy Tongue
Personal characteristics:
- Insecurity (unsure of things)
- Depression (loneliness, decrease in
abilities depresses them, changes of appearance)
- Somewhat inflexible (do not like to
change habits)
- Thoughts, response time slower
- Sometimes can be intraspective
- thoroughly check medical history
- Make cubicle / operatory more
accessible to them
Dental treatment -- Patient approach:
- Eliminate loud sounds, distractions
- Face patient
- speak slowly and clearly
- show respect for age
- be a very good listener
- do not rush
- develop trust
- reduce anxiety
- know medications and dental
indications
- emphasize plaque control
- if has xerostomia, talk about a
salivary substitute
- difficult to change lifelong habits,
make small changes
- remember what dental expectations are
(is it a priority?)
- look at dexterity, find alternatives
to make easier
- consider mental status
- prognosis with or without treatment
(dental)
- finances
- risks

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