Oral Health Status and Dental Treatment Needs of Geriatric Patients in Tertiary Dental Care Hospital - a Retrospective Study

Aging phenomenon is one of the prominent concerns faced in the 21st century. It is projected that after the next two decades, an increase in the population aged 60 years or over will be half of the total growth of the world population. This study was carried out to address major oral health consideration in a geriatric population. A retrospective analysis of 3000 case records available in a Department of Oral Medicine and radiology was done. The total population was divided into three groups according to age: Group I (60-70 years), Group II (71-80 years), Group III (>80 years). Structured proforma included the patient's chief complaint, medical/drug history, clinical findings, and management strategies. The oral health status and dental treatment needs of the geriatric population attending the department from March 2017 to March 2018(1 Year) were evaluated and analysed. Common disorders found in the three groups were periodontitis, dental caries, edentulism, TM joint disorders and mucosal lesions like stomatopyrosis, xerostomia, atrophic glossitis, oral candidiasis, oral lichen planus, drug-induced oral mucosal lesions, and premalignant and malignant lesions of the oral cavity. In elderly patients, the decline in protective barrier function of the oral mucosa exposes it to oral pathogens and chemicals that enter the oral cavity during daily activities. Evidence-based research is much needed to have a better understanding of the oral health status and treatment needs of geriatric population for improving quality of life of the aging. Keywords: geriatric, oral health, mucosal lesions, periodontitis, multidisciplinary, aging