Dr. Siti Zaleha Hamzha

Formulating a dental treatment plan for geriatric patients especially those with multiple co-morbidities may require a sound understanding of the impact of ageing on the general well-being and its association with the changes in oral soft and hard tissues. It is equally essential to consider other confounding factors such as socioeconomic situation, access to the healthcare facilities, family support and the surrounding environment in managing this vulnerable group of population. Dental treatment that is categorized as a gold standard for a particular condition may not be suitable for the elderly patients with the same condition. A well informed dental practitioner will make the best treatment decision based on their holistic clinical judgement. Therefore, this lecture will be focusing on such an approach in order to formulate an effective treatment plan for elderly patients to allow them to dentally/orally function in their environment and overall needs. A few clinical cases will be presented to enhance the understanding of the participants in the topic discussed.