COVID-19 and Geriatric Dentistry: What will be the new-normal?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14295/bds.2020.v23i2.2226Abstract
Older adults may face many barriers when accessing oral health care. The most vulnerable groups are people living in long term care institutions and the homebound. These barriers are related but not limited to socio-economic issues, medical and oral health problems. Some socio-economic problems are lack of finances, absence of dental insurance, lack of social support networks, and being institutionalized. Some general health problems are multiple co-morbidities, polypharmacy, dementia, and reduced autonomy. Some oral health problems are having heavily restored dentitions, dry mouth, root caries, and inability to maintain adequate oral hygiene independently. In addition to these existing barriers, many new barriers have arisen which are expected to further reduce access to oral health care for older adults due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Older adults are at greater risk of fatal outcomes from COVID-19 infection and many dental procedures have an increased risk of creating aerosols, thereby spreading COVID-19 infection. Consequently, older adults due to fear are less likely to seek or receive oral health care until a treatment or vaccine is developed for COVID-19 infections. In this article, the authors discuss the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic to the practice of geriatric dentistry, and what is expected to be the “new normal” in this field of dentistry.
Keywords
Aged; COVID-19; Geriatric dentistry; Older adults,;Oral health; SARS-CoV-2.
Author Biography
Leonardo Marchini, Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry - University of Iowa - College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics - Iowa City - Iowa
Associate Professor, Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental ClinicsExpertise in Geriatric Dentistry and ProsthodonticsChair of the Geriatric Council of the Special Care Dentistry Association (2019-2021)Councilor of the Geriatric and Gerontology Education Section of the American Dental Education Association (2018-2021)Elected Secretary/Treasurer International Association for Dental Research Education Research Group (2019/2022)Former Councilor of the European College of Gerodontology (2014-2017)Member of the Task and Finish Group for Gerodontology of the European Geriatric Medicine Society (2018-)
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