Senior dentistry as a necessary factor for specialization due to demographic change

Author: 
Andreas Mirwald and Viktor Foltin

Dental professionals were perceived solely as oral care professionals. However, with changes in demographic profiles and increased number of seniors dentists are becoming an integral part of healthcare system. It is necessary to look for ways to better integrate oral health care within primary care structures. The alignment of dental services and other primary care structures has made little progress on the ground. Dental practices should be encouraged to develop alliances with primary care teams or medical practices to promote cross-referral of patients from medical to dental care and vice versa, and also the exchange of knowledge on the links between dental and medical disorders. Further policies and government engagement is required to implement senior dentistry as a unique specialization.

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DOI: 
http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijcar.2023.2411.1521
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