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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.

  • 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.
  • only 5% of 65 or older in a nursing home or hospital.  95% live at home.
  • dental caries and periodontal disease still cause the main reason for tooth loss in elderly.

General physical characteristics:

  1. Decreased bone mass -- bones thin out.
  2. Decreased basal metabolism -- metabolism slows down, less need for calories.
  3. Skin wrinkled, dry, thin, pigmentation -- age spots.
  4. Reduced tolerance to temperature extremes.
  5. Decreased motor coordination.
  6. Decreased muscle size and mass.
  7. Decreased joint elasticity.
  8. Gastrointestinal changes.
  9. Decreased cardiac output -- circulation effected.
  10. Postural hypotension.
  11. Decreased breathing capacity.
  12. Sensory loss -- hearing, vision, taste.
  13. Slower nervous system response.

Disease characteristics (tendencies) in the elderly:

  1. Chronic physical and mental diseases
    **Arthritis
    **Alzheimers
  2. Arthritis
  3. Heart disease
  4. Hypertension
  5. Osteoporosis (degeneration of bones)
  6. Alzheimer's disease
  7. Diabetes
  8. Multiple conditions
  9. longer course of disease
  10. slower healing
    **manifested orally also

Oral and Dental Characteristics (due to aging or medications):

  1. angular chelitis (decrease in vertical tension) -- can be due to vitamin deficiency.
  2. mucous membrane changes.
  3. hyperkeratosis.
  4. petechiae (lateral borders of tongue, cheeks)
  5. glossitis
  6. sublingual varicosities
  7. xerostomia (check medications, check for root caries, recession, emphasis on plaque control)
  8. burning mouth syndrome (can be associated with xerostomia)
  9. 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)
  10. taste dysfunction
  11. tooth discoloration (occurs naturally)
  12. Attrition and abrasion of teeth
  13. recession
  14. root caries (also known as retirement caries)
  15. Perio disease -- lifetime history
  16. increased oral cancers -- based on lifetime habits
  17. Sjogren's sydrome (debilitating pain in mouth, dry membranes, arthritis)
  18. erythema multiforme (medication induced)
  19. Lichen planus (medication induced)
  20. Candidiasis (medication induced)
  21. Black Hairy Tongue

Personal characteristics:

  1. Insecurity (unsure of things)
  2. Depression (loneliness, decrease in abilities depresses them, changes of appearance)
  3. Somewhat inflexible (do not like to change habits)
  4. Thoughts, response time slower
  5. Sometimes can be intraspective
  6. thoroughly check medical history
  7. Make cubicle / operatory more accessible to them

Dental treatment -- Patient approach:

  1. Eliminate loud sounds, distractions
  2. Face patient
  3. speak slowly and clearly
  4. show respect for age
  5. be a very good listener
  6. do not rush
  7. develop trust
  8. reduce anxiety
  9. know medications and dental indications
  10. emphasize plaque control
  11. if has xerostomia, talk about a salivary substitute
  12. difficult to change lifelong habits, make small changes
  13. remember what dental expectations are (is it a priority?)
  14. look at dexterity, find alternatives to make easier
  15. consider mental status
  16. prognosis with or without treatment (dental)
  17. finances
  18. risks


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