The epidemiology, consequences and management of periodontal disease in older adults

Background. This review summarizes the literature on periodontal disease (PD) in older adults. The authors focused on significant sequelae of PD and therapy in this population. Types off Studies Reviewed. The authors conducted a search on PubMed for human studies using the terms "periodontal disease OR periodontitis" and "older adults." They retrieved 649 articles and excluded studies that had poor experimental design. For each topic of the review, they selected one to three of the most recent studies or reviews for inclusion and cited classic articles where appropriate. Results. PD is a common oral chronic inflammatory disease often found in older adults. In older patients, PD may lead to root caries, impaired eating and socialization. It also may increase patients' risk of developing systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, lung disease, heart disease and stroke. Treatment is not limited by chronological age but depends on the patient's medical and emotional status and the availability of financial resources. Clinical Implications. General dentists usually can treat the majority of older people with mild or moderate PD. For older adults who are medically compromised and dependent, the literature supports treatment that prevents PD progression.