Older adults are a heterogeneous group with diverse dental, medical and psychosocial needs. Research demonstrates that oral health status and access to dental care of the geriatric cohort lag far behind other segments of the population.
This is both a tragic reality and an opportunity to do better. With advanced aging, oral care needs and general health care needs increase, while the abilities to maintain independence in decision making, mobility and self-care decrease. This presentation will focus on dental and prosthodontics management of frail older adults with cognitive and functional impairments.
Learning Objectives:
• Recognize the unique and diverse needs of older adults: Understand the heterogeneity of the geriatric population and how their dental, medical, and psychosocial needs impact oral health status and access to care.
• Explore the relationship between aging and oral health: Analyze how advanced aging impacts oral health, general health care needs, and the ability to maintain independence in decision-making, mobility, and self-care.
• Develop tailored dental management strategies for older adults: Learn effective dental and prosthodontics approaches for managing the oral health care of older adults, including those with cognitive impairments, functional limitations, and medical comorbidities.
• Understand the benefits and frustrations of dental implants in older adults: Identify lessons that can be learned from the experience of frail older adults with implant-based restorations.
DDS, MSc, MSc, FRCDC - Toronto, Ontario
David Chvartszaid is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto and the dentist-in-chief at the Department of Dentistry, Alpha Omega Dental Center, Baycrest Hospital. He is a Prosthodontist and a Periodontist and holds master’s degrees in both from the University of Toronto. David is the director of Undergraduate Clinical Periodontics Program at the University of Toronto and a member of the executive of the Canadian Academy of Periodontology. He has served as the director of the Graduate Prosthodontics Program at the University of Toronto and as the president of the Association of Prosthodontists of Canada. David has been elected to the executives of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry, and the Geriatric Oral Research Group of the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research. He has given over 200 national and international presentations and has co-authored over 100 posters, book chapters, and publications on treatment planning, managing implant complications, immediate implant placement and loading, and geriatric dentistry.
