Geriatric Oral Health

Previous Page
Next Page

Oral Pain

Geriatric Oral Health Oral Health Assessment Oral Pain
  • Oral pain is common
    • Almost ¼ adults report oral pain in the past year
    • Pain may be vague and poorly localized
  • Communicating pain is often difficult for those with disabilities and non-verbal adults:
    • May be agitated, refuse to eat, pull at the face
    • May see cheek or gum swelling, broken, decayed or loose teeth, ulcers, abscesses or fistula on exam
  • Consider abuse with visible trauma, facial and tooth fractures, luxations (tooth dislocation), and avulsions within the oral cavity
Toothache,,Pain,Or,Elderly,Black,Man,In,Studio,With,Discomfort,

References

American Dental Association Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations. Women's Oral Health Issues. 2006. Accessed 9/20/2021.

Stern I, Greenberg MS. Clinical Assessment of Patients with Orofacial Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders. Dental Clinics of North America. 2013. 57(3): 393-404.

Levin L, Bhatti C. The role of dental professionals in identifying, reporting, and supporting domestic violence victims. Dental Traumatology.2024;40(Suppl. 2):3–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/edt.12897

Previous Page
Back to Lesson
Next Page