Nova Scotia Dental Association 2015 Oral Health Report - Province's dentists draw attention to plight of seniors

HALIFAX, March 18, 2015 /CNW/ - The Nova Scotia Dental Association is sounding the alarm on seniors' oral health in Nova Scotia, a problem the president-elect of the association is calling "a quiet epidemic". Dr. Russell MacSween, a family dentist and president-elect of the NSDA, says the 2015 Nova Scotia Oral Health Report "Are seniors in trouble?" is a wake-up call for a province with a rapidly aging population and no provisions in place to deal with the special oral health needs of the elderly.

"Oral health is a vital part of overall health," said Dr. MacSween, "and for a generation of our seniors who have looked after their teeth and gums carefully and now face issues with independence and mobility as they enter long term care, their oral health is being forgotten." By issuing the provincial report that focuses on seniors' oral health, Dr. MacSween says the association is hoping to gain two important objectives. "We want people to start talking about their oral health and that of their senior family members, and we need to consider training caregivers in basic preventive oral care." Ideally, the province's dentists would like to see provisions in place to provide an oral health screening for seniors prior to admission to long term care, an annual oral exam by a dentist, and a daily mouth care plan for each resident in a long term care facility.

The Nova Scotia Dental Association's "Are seniors in trouble?" report is viewable on their website at
http://www.nsdental.org/Portals/0/Nova%20Scotia%202015%20Oral%20Health%20Report.pdf

SOURCE Nova Scotia Dental Association

Steve Jennex, CAE - Executive Director, Nova Scotia Dental Association, [phone], [email protected]

Related Links

www.nsdental.org