Caring for Older Adults Residing in Institutions

Dimensions of Dental Hygiene January 13, 2016

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By Tracee Dahm, BSDH, MS, RDH

The average lifespan for Americans continues to grow, leading to a significant increase in the number of older adults. By 2030, adults age 65 and older are estimated to makeup 20% of the United States population.¹ This shift in population demographics is greatly impacting the provision and accessibility of health care. Advances in dental care have also led to more Americans retaining their natural dentition than ever before.^1,2 Today, 60% of Americans lose five teeth or fewer over their lifetimes.³ And the rate of edentulism among older adults age 65 to 74 has declined from 55.4% in 1985 to 13.7% in 2012.^4,5 In order to continue this trend of reduced tooth loss, oral health maintenance must be a priority among older adults.

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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