Geriatric Dentistry

Gerontology, often known as geriatrics or clinical gerontology, is the study of the physical and psychological changes that occur as people age. As part of an interdisciplinary team alongside other healthcare professionals¹⁶, Geriatric dentistry, also known as Gerodontology or Gerodontics, is the delivery of dental care to older adults involving the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of problems associated with normal aging and age-related diseases. It was originally defined as "that portion of the pre-doctoral dental curriculum that deals with special knowledge, attitudes and technical skills required in the provision of oral health care to older adults."¹⁷ It’s commonly considered to be a part of ‘Special Care Dentistry’ by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The Special Care Dentistry Association (SCDA) formed the American Society of Geriatric Dentistry (ASGD) in 1965 and later the SCDA Council of Geriatric Dentistry in 2013.¹⁷

Facts and Figures

Geriatric dentistry is a crucial part of the health maintenance mechanism for the elderly and medically compromised individuals. In the USA, the population of older adults has increased steadily from 12.4% in 2004 to 18% in 2024 while the share of children declined from 25% to 21.5% during same decade.¹⁸ In 2020, there were just three states where older adults outnumbered children and this number grew to 11 states in 2024.¹⁵ The U.S. Surgeon General’s Report stated that older adults suffer from a “silent epidemic of profound and consequential dental problems".¹⁸ Scientific research also indicates that by 2030, over 22 million senior citizens in the United States will require expert geriatrician care.⁷⁸ On average, people above the age of 65 years are expected to report one or more chronic medical conditions that require consideration before initiating any dental treatment. ¹⁷The U.S. Surgeon General’s Report stated that older adults suffer from a “silent epidemic of profound and consequential dental problems".¹⁹ As per one estimate, a typical dental practice could expect to see about four to five elderly patients on any given day of operation.²⁰

Correspondingly, in a statement released by the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in 2015, it was projected that an additional 6,000 dental practitioners with specialized training in geriatric dentistry would be needed by the year 2020.^21,22 However, this data needs to be revised for the updated need requirements.

According to a 2018 American Dental Association survey, 86% of Americans believe that dental health is highly essential to their overall health. Both the American Dental Association (ADA) and American Dental Education Association (ADEA) have created clinical guides for oral health professionals after realizing the complex needs for dental services among geriatric populations. These clinical guides will help professionals to better evaluate and diagnose dental problems, link oral health to chronic conditions, and provide treatment to improve older adults' quality of life.^77,78 All health professions must work together to develop inter professional education on geriatric oral health.

Impact of COVID-19 on Geriatric Patients

Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is brought on by the RNA virus coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on society's most vulnerable groups were seen by the entire world. Since its emergence in December 2019, COVID-19 has profoundly impacted the world, claiming over 7 million lives out of more than 778 million confirmed cases (according to WHO data as of July 13, 2025²³), and deeply affecting communities and societies across the globe. Of the 7.1 million reported deaths, approximately 1.2 million occurred in the United States.²⁴ According to CDC data, about 81%75% of these deaths were among individuals aged 65 and older.²⁵ Given that COVID-19 spreads primarily through airborne droplets and direct contact, its impact has been far-reaching and profound.

Older adults are more prone to hospital acquired infections, also called nosocomial infections, due to frequently comorbid health conditions. The need for frequent visit to dental care hospitals or special care facilities along with prolonged appointments ,use of rotary equipment, and weakened immune systems, exposes them to an elevated risk of infection. As a result, it's critical to take extra precautions to reduce the possibility of infecting them with the virus.

The coronavirus (2019nCoV) forced oral healthcare professionals to focus on the unique dental health requirements of ageing patients, by implementing specific guidelines and effective infection control methods in a timely manner. It also highlighted the need for healthcare professionals to be extra cautious to prevent themselves from getting infected too.

Strategies in the dental office to help older adults prevent infection during COVID 19 pandemic era included:

• Choosing tele- dentistry to get their initial dental visit.

• Pre-check triaging of the patients may be a useful screening technique.

• By advising doctors or prescribing RT-PCR tests and chest CT scans for questionable patients.

• Strict and effective infection control methods. The dentist can treat elderly persons while adhering to all infection control protocols and measures, depending on the urgency of the case.