Caries and the older patient

Population ageing is global and pervasive and in Ireland, we can expect to see the proportion of the population aged over 65 grow to nearly 30% in the next thirty years. Along with this we have seen a reduction in tooth loss. Therefore we will be managing increasing numbers of partially and fully dentate older adults in dental practice. Older adults in Ireland have high levels of past caries experience and, in particular, root caries is almost exclusively a disease seen in this cohort. Preventing and managing caries in older adults with heavily restored dentitions will bring both treatment planning and operative challenges to the dental profession.