Fayaaz Jaffer
Faculty of Dentistry,
University of Toronto.
David W. Matear
Associate Professor,
Director of Clinics,
Faculty of Dentistry,
University of Toronto.
Introduction
The oral health status of older adults is generally poorer than that of the rest of the population. In particular, those residing in institutions have very poor oral health.1,2 The prevalence of systemic infection among the elderly is becoming an increasingly important health care issue, especially since age-related demographics show an increase in the numbers of aging and elderly individuals.
One of the primary portals of entry into the body for infectious agents is the oral cavity, which is home to over 500 bacterial species alone.3 Although most oral microbes are non-pathogenic, decreased host resistance and/or environmental factors, such as institutionalization, can increase the risk of systemic infection among the elderly. Furthermore, once a focal infection has been established, it can open the way to colonization by more virulent organisms. Some of the systemic diseases reported to result from oral infections include pneumonia, meningitis, osteomyelitis, bacterial endocarditis, as well as abcesses of the brain, lung, and liver. This article will provide examples of the impact of oral diseases on general health in the elderly.
