Dental Treatment and Oral Care for Patients with Dementia

Makoto Watanabe, Akito Tsuboi, Takashi Ohi

Division of Aging and Geriatric Dentistry, Tohoku University, Graduate School of Dentistry

The higher stomatognathic function playing a part of basic activities, such as ingestion, respiration, sensation and social integration improves individual quality of life. Basic and clinical studies have demonstrated that oral conditions affect the neuronal activities of brain; especially tooth loss induces decrease of neurons in hippocampus and in prefrontal and parietal cortex related to memory problems and dementia as well as masticatory disorders. Good oral health brings significant benefit for general health of patients with dementia. The strategy of dental treatment and oral health care for the patients with dementia is to take care of their own teeth, mouth and daily living by themselves, determining to stage of dementia declining in cognitive function progressively.

Address correspondence to Dr. Makoto Watanabe, Division of Aging and Geriatric Dentistry, Tohoku University, Graduate School of Dentistry (4-1 Seiryoumachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan)