1.8 million over-65s could be suffering with an urgent dental condition

A new report by the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) suggests that almost 2 million people over 65 could be suffering with oral sepsis and other forms of urgent dental conditions.

The faculty calls for health and social care professionals to receive training in oral health, and for regulators to make standards of oral care part of their assessments of hospitals and care homes. The report adds that the number of people aged 65 or over across England, Wales and Northern Ireland suffering with an urgent dental condition could rise by more than 50 per cent by 2040.

Michael Escudier, dean of the faculty at the Royal College of Surgeons, said that poor oral health in the elderly was linked to malnutrition and pneumonia, adding: “We are letting them down when they need the most help by not having a joined-up strategy to improve access to dental services.”

Read the full article here:https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pensioners-plagued-by-tooth-pain-dnvnj7gw8