Oral Health in the Elderly

In the year 2000 our 16th Surgeon General, Dr. David Satcher announced, "One of the more dramatic discoveries in biomedical science in the twentieth century has been the realization that tooth loss is not an inevitable consequence of aging, but the result of disease or injury."  According to the Center for Disease Control, 1/3 of Californians over the age of 65 report having lost 6 or more teeth.  In 2008 the American Dental Association launched an initiative for geriatric dental care called OralLongevity.  It has developed into an online resource for both dentists and consumers which focuses on the unique dental needs of the elderly.  Please explore the website and search out the Videos for easy sharing with your staff, residents and families.  Dental care takes extra time, but it is a part of the daily assistance many of our residents require.