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Demographic Trends of Aging — Application to Gerodontology 1
Author(s) -
Mersel Alex,
Call Richard,
Mann Jonathan
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
gerodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1741-2358
pISSN - 0734-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-2358.1987.tb00276.x
Subject(s) - medicine , life expectancy , root caries , geriatric dentistry , epidemiology , dental care , population , population ageing , dentistry , gerontology , dentition , environmental health , oral health
Aging of the global world population both in developed and developing countries, an unbalanced male‐female ratio within this elderly population, increasing populations – including elderly – within urban areas, all will have a marked effect on the practice of dentistry. Furthermore, major epidemiological changes occurring in the dental field, including an increasing dentition life expectancy, increasing root caries prevalence, decreasing coronal caries rates in children, and the relative increase in the prevalence of periodontal problems will have further impact on the dental care system. Major changes need to be anticipated both at the level of the care provider, including the dentist, the hygienist and the dental assistant, and at the level of the potential patient, especially among the geriatric population, if the profession is to be prepared to adequately address these issues.