DOCTOR-PATIENT COMMUNICATION IN DENTISTRY: TARGET POPULATION
- Authors: Krasnoshtanova I.A1, Chichunov D.S1, Sushchenko A.V1, Torubarova I.I1
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- Issue: Vol 2, No 1 (2013)
- Pages: 254
- Section: Articles
- URL: https://new.vestnik-surgery.com/index.php/2415-7805/article/view/2523
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Abstract
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Target population is the population that consists of groups of individuals with similarities of some sort - age, race, educational background, life situation and/ or health conditions. Each of these groups may have their own peculiarities in providing dental health care and barriers to dental care that may be encountered. Dental care is an important part of health care service for children, because dental caries and untreated dental diseases may have significant consequences for a child’s health and well-being. Children can experience pain, dysfunction, infection, poor appearance and low self-esteem as well as drastic alterations to their ability to eat, communicate, sleep and play. For a child dental appointments are a unique psychological and behavioral experience that can cause different challenges to the delivery of treatment. These challenges make great demands on dental providers. The highest level of technical skills and knowledge is used when treating a young patient. To ensure effective treatment, dental professionals need familiarity with the developmental norms of different ages. Otherwise, dental care providers may experience narrow interpretation of children needs and fail to consider the social, developmental and environmental context of their lives. This is the reason why there is no evident progress in eradicating common oral diseases in childhood. Another age group requiring special attention is the elderly. The present geriatric population is one of the fastest growing segments of the society. A number of significant changes occur during aging. Most of these normal changes do not cause oral diseases. But it is the cumulative effects of both oral and systemic diseases that result in prevalence of oral disease among the elderly. The fact is that increasing number of “well elderly” is able to retain their natural teeth and enjoy normal oral function throughout old age. Physiologic changes associated with aging can impact every system in the body and have an effect on the way dental care is delivered. Osteoporosis, that is common in the elderly, is an age-related disorder characterized by a decrease in bone mass and by an increased susceptibility to bone fractures. The changes in the alveolar bone as a result of osteoporosis may contribute to the progression of periodontal disease. Also, a significant decrease in bone mass of the mandible may lead to fragility and increased resorption, risk of fracture and failure of osseointegration of dental implants. Prevention, rather than treatment, is the key to the management of osteoporosis. Exercise, vitamins, a balanced diet, dietary calcium, and estrogen play role in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. One of the major changes of the last years is the steady decrease in the rate of edentulism. This decline may be due to water fluoridation, increased public awareness of preventive approaches and improved access to service. There are a large number of people suffering from arthritis. Arthritis means joint inflammation. Patients with an arthritic condition need individual treatment. Their treatment plans must consider the possible need for shorter visits. Plans for personalized oral hygiene instruction should also be addressed. The patient with an arthritic condition may not have the stress, movement, or dexterity to perform typical self-care regimens. To summarize, there are patients with different medical conditions in every day dental practice. Each medical circumstance has unique oral manifestations. To know about these characteristics and associated preventive strategies will be beneficial to both the practitioner and the patients. It is especially important for each professional to understand what oral changes may occur as a result of an altered medical state and to choose the approach unique to each patient and their condition.×