Systemic diseases can affect people of any age, but they are much more common in the elderly population and are likely to become an increasingly prevalent issue as a progressively larger proportion of the population is aged over 65 years.
Ageing may be defined as the age-progressive decline in intrinsic physiological function. However, due to advances in medicine, the rate of mortality has reduced and the older population is ever increasing.
Beyond purely dental considerations, clinicians will need to consider the wider ramifications of the social and medical status of older adult patients.
As the population ages, increasing numbers of older adults are keeping natural teeth well into old age. Over the course of a lifetime, teeth, periodontal tissues and oral mucosa are exposed to a wide range of risk factors for disease.
Dependent adults, such as older adults with dementia and people with disabilities, make up about 10% of the Irish population.
This article reviews the recently published EFP S3-level clinical practice guideline for the management of Stage I-III periodontitis, highlighting aspects of interest to dental professionals.
This clinical feature outlines the oral concerns that may arise in patients requiring solid organ transplantation as a result of cystic fibrosis.
This clinical feature outlines the systemic manifestations, pharmacological management and dental management of patients with cystic fibrosis.
The third in our series on the implementation of the 2017 World Workshop classification of periodontal and peri-implant diseases and conditions in daily practice looks at two cases from Cork University Dental School and Hospital.
