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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Judith Jones, DDS, MPH, DScD, General Dentistry, Boston University, 100 East Newton St, room 612, Boston, MA 02118, 617-414-1065, judjones@bu.edu

The U.S. Office of Technology Assessment estimates that almost seven million Americans have dementia, including almost half of persons age 85 and older in some communities. Dementia refers to a collection of disorders characterized by impairments of intellectual functioning and interference with usual activities and relationships. In addition to memory loss, language impairment, perceptual disturbances and cognitive impairments, persons with dementia are at substantially higher risk for poor oral health and have problems with access to oral health care. This presentation will review extant data on access to oral care as well as common oral diseases that are more prevalent and severe in persons with dementia. Target outcomes for long-term oral health care in persons with dementia will be presented in light of the associated lifetime risk of institutionalization in these persons.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the prevalence and severity of oral diseases in frail elders with dementia;
• describe disparities in their access to oral health care; and
• discuss target outcomes of oral health care in frail elders with dementia.

Keywords: Dementia, Oral Health Outcomes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No