Pretreatment for the cardiovascularly compromised geriatric dental patient: Geriatric Dentistry

As more elderly patients seek dental care, dentists will increasingly be confronted with growing numbers of ill patients on multiple medication regimes. Because cardiovascular disease is the largest disease entity in this age group and the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality, this paper has focused on the major types of cardiovascular disease, and the cardiac medications routinely prescribed. Possible interactions with dental procedures or medications and alternative dental treatments and medications are discussed. The need for the dentist to continually assess the stability of the patient's health and compliance with his or her prescribed treatment regimen is stressed, because through an awareness of the patient's medical status and level of compliance the dentist can determine a course of dental treatment that will not jeopardize the geriatric patient's already compromised cardiovascular health.     

Geriatric Dentistry: Communicating with the elderly patient

I have presented some major biosocial difficulties that occur with age that necessitate special consideration in communication. I believe that through knowledge of these changes and appropriate care, health providers can assist older adults maintain self-esteem and self-support, necessary for the development of needed self-care skills.