ASI's Geriatric Dentistry: Caring for Our Patients as they Age provides dental professionals with up to 14 CEs AGD and/or 18 CEs CBDE in continuing dental education. American Seminar Institute has provided top-quality, accredited continuing education seminars for over 30 years. Geriatric Dentistry: Caring for Our Patients as they Age is provided in a convenient, flexible and portable format, perfect for travel and ideal for busy dental professionals.
This course is appropriate for dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants.
With the rapid aging of the population, oral health care providers will be seeing more older adults in their practice than ever before. It is estimated that the population aged 65 years and over will nearly double between 2005 and 2030, resulting in 20% of the population being 65 years and older in 2030. 1 in 5! As people live longer, they are retaining their teeth, thus, predisposing themselves to increased risks for caries and periodontal diseases.
While the growing population of older adults remains healthy and active, the future elderly will demand quality care in their later years. In order to best provide optimal care for older adults, oral health professionals need to be aware of a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to, the impact of age-related physical changes, environmental/office design, cognitive impairments and strategies to manage these situations. Practitioners need to be aware of ways to ensure that their practice provides a safe, appropriate and comfortable care to their older patients.
The aging population is a diverse conglomerate of adults 65 years and older however, there are large disparities between those aged 85 years and older and those just turning 65 years of age. Awareness of the psychological, physical and cognitive changes associated with these diverse populations is needed as there is little doubt that having poor oral health in the later years of life challenges one’s general well-being and quality of life.
Part 1 – As the demographic changes occur, dental professionals will be working with two distinct groups of older adults – the "Baby Boomers" and those older than 85 years of age. Knowledge of the individual groups' oral health beliefs and behaviors and how these impact their perspective on care is important when assisting individuals making treatment planning decisions. Knowledge of the many physical changes associated with aging will improve the strategies we utilize in the prevention of disease and the delivery of care to older adult dental patients. Understanding the risk factors associated with soft tissue pathology, such as oral cancer and candidiasis, will aid in the practitioners’ ability to correctly assess and manage these conditions. Strategies to prevent the initiation and development of root and coronal caries will be reviewed, as well as treatment of these conditions.
In addition to physical changes related to aging, this section will review age-related changes of vision and audition and how these can impact the delivery of oral health care.
Part 2: Cognitive changes associated with aging as well as common cognitive pathological processes are discussed in this section. These conditions are often identified in older adults, often mis-identified as age-related changes and have a significant impact on the oral health status of older adults. Confusion is one of the most common presentations of cognitive disorders in older adults. Confusion most frequently is caused by dehydration, delirium, dementia and depression. Signs and symptoms of each of these conditions are reviewed as well as strategies to assist the dental practitioner with their management. Specific restorative and preventive oral health strategies for individuals with cognitive impairment are discussed.
After completing this course, you should have a better understanding and working knowledge of:
-
Age-Related Physical, Oral and Cognitive Changes
-
Heterogeneity of the Population
-
Complications of Vision-Related and Audition-Related Changes
-
Behavioral and Cognitive Changes Associated with Cardiovascular Accidents
-
Preventative and Restorative Approaches of Caries in Older Adults
-
Behavioral and Cognitive Changes Associated with Dementia
-
Strategies for Successful Treatment of Cognitively Impaired Older Adults
Approved PACE Program Provider for FAGD/MAGD Credit. Approval does not imply acceptance by a state or provincial board of dentistry or AGD endorsement. Provider ID: 211769 (2/1/2011) to (1/31/2014).
When registering, please indicate your preferred accreditation (AGD or CBDE) in the "General Information" field on the online registration form.
Produced: 8/01/2012
Expires: 7/31/2015
