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Meeting the oral health needs of institutionalized elderly

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Abstract

Numerous impairments cause suffering to the institutionalized elderly person. The medically compromised or severely demented patient, especially one with swallowing difficulties, presents a challenge to the dental practitioner. This paper summarizes typical geriatric dental problems that caregivers in a long-term care (LTC) facility should find recognizable. It also describes palliative and preventive treatment modalities that help improve the quality of life for such institutionalized patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center-New York, DVAMC-NY Dental Service (630/160, 423 E. 23rd Street, Rm 2202N, 10010-5050, New York, NY, USA

    Kathy Udell Martin D.D.S., F.A.G.D.

  2. New York University College of Dentistry, Newark, New Jersey, USA

    Kathy Udell Martin D.D.S., F.A.G.D.

  3. New Jersey Dental School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA

    Joel O'Hara Martin D.D.S., M.S.

Authors
  1. Kathy Udell Martin D.D.S., F.A.G.D.
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  2. Joel O'Hara Martin D.D.S., M.S.
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Martin, K.U., Martin, J.O. Meeting the oral health needs of institutionalized elderly. Dysphagia 7, 73–80 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02493437

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