Geriatric Dentistry: A Comprehensive Review of How to Manage the Aging Patient

Geriatric Dentistry: A Comprehensive Review of How to Manage the Aging Patient is organized by The University of British Columbia (UBC) and will be held from Oct 25 - 27, 2025 at Villa Cathay Care Home, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Description:
The North American population is aging and most dental practices have significant portions of their patient pool over the age of 65. There is great clinical heterogeneity amongst older adults, ranging from functionally independent to frail to functionally dependent. Multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and frailty contribute to functional decline in older adults and increase the risk of rapid oral health deterioration. Declines in cognition can affect patient co-operation for dental procedures, consent, and daily oral hygiene. Managing the dental needs of frail and functionally dependent older adults presents numerous clinical challenges in terms of treatment planning and treatment delivery. In this Continuing Education course, practical tips will be discussed for managing common clinical scenarios in complex older adults, with a focus on skills that can be used in private practice. This three day course will provide you practical, up to date, and clinically relevant information in Geriatric Dentistry with two days of lectures at UBC, a handson glass ionomer workshop in the UBC Simulation Dentistry clinic, and a half day observing clinical activity in a dental clinic located within a long-term care facility in downtown Vancouver.

Educational Objectives:
By the end of this Continuing Education course, participants will be able to: 

•  Describe practical skills that clinicians can use chair side to foster a positive experience for frail and functionally dependent older adults in the operatory 
•  Examine the impact of evidence-based risk factors in treatment planning in functionally independent older adults compared to their frail/functionally dependent counterparts, including cognitive decline, multimorbidity, and frailty 
•  Employ a shared decision-making framework with geriatric patients/caregivers
•  Describe practical skills that dental administrative teams can use to create a positive office experience for older adults 
•  Employ clinical techniques to manage root caries in older adults 
•  Evaluate various treatment plans for medically complex older adults in the setting of rapid oral health deterioration.