Oral health needs of the geriatric patients and the role of mobile dentistry

Abstract

In today’s times, elderly individuals are keeping their natural teeth for longer owing to the rising popularity of fixed dental restorations and dental implants. It is seen that access to oral health care reduces and dental demands rise as people get older and more dependent on medical attention. For a high quality of life in terms of dental health, it is critical to have a functional dentition. A skilled oral health care provider is required for the geriatric population due to complex connections between dental health, some systemic illnesses, and medication side effects. For more than a century, there have been mobile dentistry services available as a way to help the underserved in society. Initially geared towards children, these services are now frequently used by adults and the elderly, particularly those in nursing homes, people with special needs, and those who have disabilities. When treating dependent elderly patients, it has been shown that home dental treatment is more economical than traditional dental care. Four distinct mobile dental service models by which a dental healthcare professional contacts a patient include the mobile dental vehicle model, portable equipment model, fixed equipment model, and the hybrid model. The services provided by the public sector in most countries employ a range of models, including the hybrid model, portable equipment, and fixed equipment, but the private sectors mostly use portable equipment to provide a mobile dental service. Dental care provided by university-based services ranges from routine to complicated procedures, whereas basic, routine care is mostly offered by the commercial sector. Mobile and portable dental models offer a practical substitute for typical dental clinic visits or when the fixed setup is not present. Mobile dental services also have shown utility for data gathering, strategy creation, and investigations on the potential effects of preventative and oral treatment provided by these services.