A significant shift in the dental health of older people is set to present more complex challenges for dentists, a new report suggests. While over a quarter (28%) of individuals aged 75 and above had no natural teeth – a condition known as edentulism – in the 1970s, this figure has now dramatically dropped to just 11%.
This increased retention of natural teeth means that, as the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) highlights in its report on the future of dentistry, “In the 1970s, it wasn’t uncommon for adults to lose all their teeth by the time they reached old age. Today we are looking at the majority of 65 plus-year-olds still having some or all their natural teeth which often require complex restorative work.”
The ADG, which represents approximately 10,000 dentists, notes that the number of elderly people requiring a full set of dentures has “decreased massively” as a direct result of this trend. Full dentures, while offering ease of cleaning and immunity to cavities due to their removable nature, are becoming less common as natural teeth are preserved for longer.
“While full denture use has decreased, many elderly patients now have partial dentures, implants or complex restorations,” the report adds.
Meanwhile, the ADG warned dentists could also be facing a “massive increase” in demand from “tomorrow’s elderly” – people currently in their 30s, 40s and 50s – who are getting cosmetic dental surgery and so-called “Turkey teeth”.
It highlighted how implants need maintenance and can be affected by medications including blood thinners which are commonly taken among elderly patients.
The ADG said there could be a “dentistry silver tsunami” with cases becoming more complex as people age.
It comes as the new report by the ADG warns that dentistry in the UK faces a number of “tectonic plate shifts”, including demographic shifts in the population which will see more elderly people and a reduction in the young workforce to care for them.
The report also highlights a “massive gap” in the dental workforce and calls for action to reverse the trend to ensure patient access to care.
ADG executive chairman Neil Carmichael said: “Today, oral healthcare provision is already stretched with gaps in the workforce, tomorrow this will become even more acute.
“The ADG’s future of dentistry report predicts a massive increase in the demand for dental treatments by those who are in their 30s and 40s now who are currently having cosmetic dentistry and implants.
“Some are going abroad for these cosmetic dental treatments – for so-called ‘Turkey teeth’ – where the quality of the work cannot always be guaranteed.
“When they become elderly, their oral health needs will become even greater since cosmetic dentistry treatments need care by the individual and from the dental team.
“We will be facing a dentistry silver tsunami if we are not careful, so it is important now for all healthcare professionals – from dentistry, to health and social care – to work together to deliver the solutions.”
Glen Taylor, chief dental officer for Community Dental Services (CDS-CIC) said: “As more older adults retain their natural teeth, maintaining good oral hygiene becomes more challenging, as the complexity of their dental need increases.
“Looking ahead, the next generation of older adults — those currently in their 30s to 60s — will present even greater challenges.
“Many will have implants and cosmetic dentistry that require lifelong maintenance and are vulnerable to the effects of medications such as bisphosphonates and blood thinners, or the impact of medical interventions and dementia-related illnesses.
“Cosmetic treatments, while beneficial, will not last a lifetime without sustained high standards of oral hygiene, and ongoing repairs will be inevitable.
“To meet this rising complexity, the dental workforce must be supported and strengthened.”
Health minister Stephen Kinnock will speak at the launch event of the report. He is expected to say that the Government will “deliver an NHS dentistry system that is fair and accessible, one that provides more readily accessible, good quality care – including better prevention – to those most in need”.
“We have been taking urgent action to rebuild NHS dentistry now, while laying strong foundations for the future,” he will add.
“The NHS dentistry workforce is our greatest asset. As part of our 10 year health plan, we have also announced that newly qualified dentists will be required to practise in the NHS after they graduate.
“That will mean more NHS dentists, more NHS appointments and better oral health.”
