Topic: “Dental Treatment for Older Adults”
This lecture is sponsored by Garfield Refining Co.
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Speaker: Dr. Chris Wyatt
Venue: Radisson President Hotel, 8181 Cambie Road, Richmond, BC
Time: 6:00 p.m. (registration) 6:30 p.m. (dinner) 7:30 p.m. (lecture) Fee: Free (Member) $100 (Non-Member)
Synopsis: The Canadian population is aging, and an increasing number of people are presenting to our dental clinics with the positive and negative effects of old age. A growing number of older adults are successfully aging at home, and living active lifestyles. However many older adults suffer chronic disease and disabilities including cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, and senile dementia. In addition, the provision of dental care for older adults is affected by polypharmacy and xerostomic effects of medications.
Older adults are retaining teeth longer and have experienced sophisticated dental care over their lifetime. They have invested a considerable amount of time and money in their mouths and expect to retain their teeth, implants and dental prostheses. However, for many older adults, poor oral hygiene predisposes them to gingivitis, periodontitis, denture stomatitis, and especially dental caries. Poor oral health and tooth loss often results in discomfort, poor aesthetics, halitosis, compromised mastication, and these combined decrease quality of life.
The loss of natural teeth is just as much an aesthetic and functional concern for an older adult as a younger patient. The options for replacement of teeth are no different from those who are younger. However, frailty (physical and cognitive) poses significant limitation on a patient’s ability to undergo a complex dental treatment and comply with maintenance recommendations. This presentation will discuss issues about planning and provision of dental care for older adults.
The Clinician: Dr. Chris Wyatt is Professor and Chair of the Division of Prosthodontics & Dental Geriatrics in the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of British Columbia. Dr.Wyatt graduated with a DMD degree from the University of British Columbia in 1986, a Diploma in Prosthodontics in 1995, and an MSc in Dentistry in 1996 from the University of Toronto. He is a founding member of the ELDERS group (Elder’s Link with Dental Education, Research, and Service), and the Director of the UBC Geriatric Dentistry Program. In 2010, Dr. Wyatt was appointed as head of the new Graduate Prosthodontics Program at UBC. He is past President of the Association of Prosthodontists of Canada and the British Columbia Society of Prosthodontists and is a member of the Geriatric Dentistry Committee of the British Columbia Dental Association