Advancing Oral Health Care for the Ageing Population: Exploring Gerodontology and Geriatric Dentistry

A special issue of Geriatrics (ISSN 2308-3417).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 3 September 2025 | Viewed by 3873

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor

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Guest Editor
College of Dentistry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Interests: dentistry; odontology; stomatology; operative dentistry; restorative dentistry; prosthodontics; dental materials; CAD/CAM dentistry; esthetic dentistry; cosmetic dentistry; laminate veneers; optimization of protocols
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to announce a Special Issue of MDPI’s journal Geriatrics, titled “Advancing Oral Health Care for the Ageing Population: Exploring Gerodontology and Geriatric Dentistry”. This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research and clinical insights that improve oral health outcomes and enhance the quality of care for older adults. As the global population continues to age, addressing the unique dental needs and challenges older individuals face becomes increasingly important. This Special Issue invites high-quality research articles exploring a wide range of topics, including clinical decision making, case reports, qualitative studies, mixed methods research, and advancements in areas related to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, promotion, and maintenance associated with the oral health of the ageing population. We encourage the submission of qualitative studies, mixed methods research, case reports, clinical cases, and case series that contribute to our understanding of effective clinical decision making in geriatric dentistry. By sharing your work, you will play a vital role in shaping the future of oral health care for older adults and advancing the field of gerodontology. MDPI’s journal Geriatrics has an Impact Factor of 2.3 and is indexed in PubMed. It is classified in the second quartile (Q2) under the Health (Social Science) category in SCOPUS. This Special Issue aims to publish high-quality articles that provide valuable insights and practical implications for improving oral health care for the ageing population. We invite researchers, clinicians, and academicians to submit their original research, review articles, and case reports to this Special Issue. By contributing your work, you will help expand the knowledge base in geriatric dentistry and foster collaborative efforts to address the unique oral health challenges older individuals face. We look forward to receiving your submissions and sincerely appreciate your valuable contributions to this Special Issue.

Dr. Kelvin Afrashtehfar
Dr. Carlos A. Jurado
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Geriatrics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • gerodontology
  • geriatric dentistry
  • clinical decision making
  • case reports
  • clinical cases
  • qualitative study
  • mixed methods research
  • vertical dimension of occlusion
  • dental implants
  • overdentures
  • edentulism
  • periodontal disease
  • maintenance
  • fixed dental prosthesis
  • radicular caries
  • alveolar bone loss
  • aging population
  • oral health quality of care
  • quality of life
  • airway management
  • conservative dentistry
  • palliative dentistry
  • narrative reviews
  • systematic reviews

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 247 KiB  
Article
Oral Health and the Association with Blood Parameters in Neurogeriatric Inpatients without Relevant Systemic Inflammation: An Observational Study
by Alicia Maria Blasi, Sonja Henny Maria Derman, Asha Kunnel, Pantea Pape, Gabriele Röhrig and Anna Greta Barbe
Geriatrics 2024, 9(3), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics9030055 - 23 Apr 2024
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Abstract
As little evidence is available, we report the oral health of neurogeriatric inpatients and the association with hematological parameters representing systemic health. We performed a cross-sectional investigation of 30 patients undergoing neurogeriatric early rehabilitation and excluded systemic inflammation as a trigger for oral [...] Read more.
As little evidence is available, we report the oral health of neurogeriatric inpatients and the association with hematological parameters representing systemic health. We performed a cross-sectional investigation of 30 patients undergoing neurogeriatric early rehabilitation and excluded systemic inflammation as a trigger for oral infection (C-reactive protein >5 mg/dL). Outcomes included oral health and hygiene status and routine laboratory parameters. Patients (mean age 79 ± 6 years, mean comorbidities 7 ± 3, and mean Barthel Index at hospital admission 31 ± 18) had impaired oral health (mean 18 ± 7 of their own teeth, elevated plaque indices (2.5 ± 0.4), and bleeding on probing (26 ± 17)), representing short- and long-term reduced oral hygiene. Twenty-four (80%) patients had periodontitis. Laboratory parameters for inflammation, nutrition, and anemia did not correlate with oral health parameters (p > 0.05). The number of teeth correlated moderately with total protein (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (rs) = 0.524; p = 0.003). Plaque indices correlated weakly with number of teeth (rs = −0.460; p = 0.010) and periodontitis diagnosis (rs = 0.488; p = 0.006). Thus, highly vulnerable neurogeriatric inpatients had reduced oral health and hygiene independent of laboratory parameters, representing a high-risk population for oral health problems even without clinically proven systemic infection. This should be considered in future interprofessional therapy planning. Full article

Review

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23 pages, 1540 KiB  
Review
An Update on the Interdisciplinary Dental Care Approach for Geriatric Diabetic Patients
by Zenovia Surlari, Oana Elena Ciurcanu, Dana Gabriela Budala, Oana Butnaru and Ionut Luchian
Geriatrics 2023, 8(6), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics8060114 - 25 Nov 2023
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Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent health issue escalating worldwide that gives rise to numerous problems. Periodontal disorders are recognized as the sixth consequence associated with diabetes mellitus. Research shows that dental health affects overall health, and this knowledge is changing the dental field. [...] Read more.
Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent health issue escalating worldwide that gives rise to numerous problems. Periodontal disorders are recognized as the sixth consequence associated with diabetes mellitus. Research shows that dental health affects overall health, and this knowledge is changing the dental field. The correct choice of glucose goal levels and the optimal selection of glucose-lowering medications are determined by a comprehensive geriatric assessment, an estimate of life expectancy, and a rationale for therapy at regular intervals in elderly diabetics. This article provides an overview of the correlation between diabetes and oral health, with a specific emphasis on xerostomia, periodontal disease, and dental caries. Thus, dentists play a significant role within the allied health profession by contributing to the provision of oral care for those diagnosed with diabetes, with a special focus on geriatric patients. Full article
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Other

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8 pages, 1096 KiB  
Opinion
A Proposal for a Multidisciplinary Integrated Oral Health Network for Patients Undergoing Major Orthopaedic Surgery (IOHN-OS)
by Matteo Briguglio, Thomas W. Wainwright, Marialetizia Latella, Aurora Ninfa, Claudio Cordani, Cecilia Colombo, Giuseppe Banfi, Luca Francetti and Stefano Corbella
Geriatrics 2024, 9(2), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics9020039 - 19 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1208
Abstract
The passing of the years of life physiologically leads to the accumulation of changes in tissues in the oral cavity, influencing dentition, chewing and swallowing mechanisms, and the oral microbiota. Some diseases and medications can aggravate oral symptoms and negatively influence eating behaviours, [...] Read more.
The passing of the years of life physiologically leads to the accumulation of changes in tissues in the oral cavity, influencing dentition, chewing and swallowing mechanisms, and the oral microbiota. Some diseases and medications can aggravate oral symptoms and negatively influence eating behaviours, increasing the likelihood of becoming malnourished. This could make older individuals more vulnerable to complications when undergoing major orthopaedic surgery. Hidden infection foci in the oral cavity are a recognised cause of post-operative periprosthetic joint infections. Dysfunctional oral problems might also compromise feeding after surgery when good nutrition represents a fundamental aspect of a proper recovery. To manage these shortcomings, in this article, the authors hypothesise a multidisciplinary path of care named the Integrated Oral Health Network applied to major Orthopaedic Surgery (IOHN-OS). This peri-operative initiative would include pre-operative oral health screening and risk management by a dental team, patient education programmes before and after surgery, and bedside gerodontology actions like oral care and meal and eating support for fragile individuals. The IOHN-OS has the potential to reshape the concept of suitability for major orthopaedic surgery and generate momentum for designing community-based surveillance programmes that can keep the mouths of older subjects healthy for a long time. Full article
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