Institute for Oral Health | Senior dental care. dentistry whitepapers, oral health care policy, geriatric dentistry

2008 Focus Group #1: Oral Health Needs for Seniors

February 21-22, 2008 - San Diego, CA

As part of ongoing collaborative research, in February 2008 the Institute for Oral Health hosted the first of two focus groups with leading experts to discuss critical concerns in geriatric dentistry and identify potential solutions.

Focus Group #1 discussed the following key topics:

Provider training to meet senior needs
Oral health assessments for the elderly
Dental restoration options and considerations
Mobility constraints and access limitations

Panel of Experts

Led by IOH Executive Director, Dr. Ron Inge, the forum discussion included:

Ira Parker, DDS, MA, MPH
Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, UC San Diego

Douglas Berkey, DMD, MPH, MS
Univ. of Colorado Denver School of Dental Medicine;
Past President of Geriatric Oral Research Group of the Int'l Assn for Dental Research; Past Chair of Gerontology and Geriatrics Education, ADEA

Ann Slaughter, DDS, MPH
Assistant Professor, School of Dental Medicine, Course Director for Geriatric Dentistry, Univ. of Pennsylvania

Kenneth Shay, DDS, MPH
Director, Geriatrics & Extended Care Service Line (VA Services); Chief of Dental Geriatrics, VA Medical Center, MI; Adjunct Associate Professor of Dentistry, Univ. of Michigan School of Dentistry

Robert Henry, DMD, MPH
Director, Geriatric Dental Services & Assistant Chief of Dentistry, VA Medical Center, Lexington, KY; Clinical Associate Professor & Course Director for Geriatric Dentistry, Univ. of Kentucky College of Dentistry



	Related IOH Events 2008 Conference Highlights \| WHITEPAPER 2008 Conference Speakers 2008 Focus Groups Group #1: Feb 08 in San Diego \| WHITEPAPER Group #2: June 08 in Denver \| WHITEPAPER



	"Geriatric dentistry is a very delicate balancing act, and if you don’t get it right, there are all sorts of consequences associated with it." -- Dr. Douglas Berkey



	"In elderly patients, cognitive ability should be consider a sixth vital sign and included in all health assessments." -- Dr. Kenneth Shay



	"Geriatric training needs to include a continuity of exposure and experience –beginning with talking to the elderly, spending time at their care facility, learning the educational component, and then treating these people." -- Dr. Robert Henry



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