Self-test For Elderly to Identify a Need For Immediate Dental Care
According to Missouri researchers, older Americans avoid going to the
dentist unless they have a dental problem such as a toothache or other
oral pain.
Dr. John E. Morley, director of Geriatric Medicine at St. Louis University
School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, and his team have developed
a quick checklist for senior citizens to use to assess if they should
seek prompt dental attention. The health quiz spells D E N T A L to help
alert the elderly for symptoms:
- Dry Mouth
- Eating difficulty
- No dental care in the last 2 years
- Tooth or mouth pain
- Alteration or change in food selection for ease of eating
- Lesions, sores or lumps in the mouth
The quiz is intended to help protect seniors, especially in scenarios
where oral cancer may be left undiagnosed, and could eventually cause
death. Dental problems can also lead to unnecessary pain, infections and
eventual tooth loss that can interfere with the person's ability to eat
and chew with ease. Speech patterns can also be affected.
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