Dental Hygiene for the Dementia Patient

As the population ages you will encounter increasing numbers of dementia patients in your practice. Most of these patients possess natural dentitions, and dental hygiene becomes vital to reduce the incidence of pain, infection and aspiration. Changes in behavior, medication, alertness, ability to cooperate and ability to perform oral hygiene all impact the success of a hygiene program. Caregivers become a critical part of successful treatment and must be considered and included in appointments, treatment planning and oral hygiene instruction. This course will discuss the different forms of dementia, how to manage a patient in each stage of the disease, and how to adjust oral hygiene instruction to maximize oral health through the progression of the disease. By understanding these concepts a dental hygienist can greatly improve a dementia patient’s safety and quality of life, as well as the quality of life of their family and caregivers.