Oral health and dental treatment for people with dementia

Alexander Schembri

Abstract

People with dementia may no longer have or will reach a stage when they no longer have the ability to voice their needs for oral care and treatment, carry out daily oral hygiene to a level that prevents disease, make informed choice and give valid consent for treatment. This may have a negative effect on the oral health of the individual and on the quality of life. Thus to contribute to maintain an acceptable quality of life of persons with dementia, the dental team has the specific role to keep them free of oral infections, restore their dentition so they can enjoy eating, maintain speech and aesthetics as long as possible.