Browse the special virtual issue of the International Dental Journal on oral health for older adults
A special virtual issue on oral health for older adults was recently published in the International Dental Journal (IDJ), available to all, free-of-charge, on the IDJ website
A functional and aesthetically satisfactory dentition is an essential component of healthy ageing. A functional dentition is associated with many advantages, including mastication of a range of food, as well as promoting social interaction. As members of the dental profession, it is incumbent upon us to be aware of the special needs and concerns of older adults and the general health issues associated with ageing that can impact dental disease and treatment.
This virtual issue includes a selection of papers that address concerns linked to oral healthcare for older adults and illustrates the unique challenges associated with providing this care. Topics include disparities in dental insurance coverage for older adults, the level of awareness of oral cancer among older adults, and the general health of elderly patients seen in the dental office, among others.
From a dental perspective, tooth retention is increasing and edentulism is declining. The association of certain noncommunicable diseases with oral inflammation, primarily cardiovascular disease and diabetes, is one important example of how ageing and oral healthcare intersect. These trends will have a major impact on the provision of healthcare, certainly including dental care, representing an enormous challenge to the healthcare profession.
This is IDJ’s second virtual issue, which was released in line with the World Oral Health Forum on oral health and healthy ageing, held during the FDI World Dental Congress in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The first virtual issue was on children’s oral health, published in the lead-up to World Oral Health Day earlier this year. This issue complements an IDJ supplement titled Oral health for an ageing population: evidence for a fundamental human right, which was published in October 2017.
> Read the issue at leisure on the IDJ website.
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The International Dental Journal (IDJ) is FDI’s primary scientific publication. Published every two months, IDJ features peer-reviewed articles relevant to oral health worldwide. These focus on international public health, practice-related research, and inter-professional education and practice.
