Published 2025-09-15
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
As global populations age, oral health among older adults has emerged as a critical public health priority. This review synthesizes evidence on the epidemiology, clinical needs, barriers to care, best practices, and future directions in geriatric dentistry. Older adults experience disproportionately high rates of caries, periodontal disease, edentulism, xerostomia, and oral mucosal disorders, often complicated by multimorbidity, polypharmacy, functional limitations, and cognitive decline. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and augmented/virtual reality technologies provides new opportunities to enhance diagnostic accuracy, personalize treatment, and expand access to care—particularly for patients with mobility restrictions or limited dental service availability. AI-enabled tools improve early detection of oral diseases, optimize prosthodontic and implant planning, and support minimally invasive, patient-centered approaches. Barriers such as financial constraints, workforce shortages, digital literacy gaps, and privacy concerns continue to limit equitable care for older adults. The review emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical AI adoption, diverse datasets, regulatory frameworks, and continuing education to ensure safe and effective implementation of digital tools in geriatric dentistry. Future innovations will rely on integrating AI with wearable devices, predictive analytics, and smart health ecosystems to support preventive, efficient, and accessible oral healthcare for aging populations.
Keywords: Older adults, Geriatric dentistry, Oral health needs, Barriers to dental care
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT, Diagnostic technologies, Predictive analytics, Prosthodontics and implant planning, Periodontal disease