Dysphagia rehabilitation and prosthodontics for older people

Abstract

Most of patients of prosthodontics in near future will be older people who need long-term nursing care with dysphagia. It is therefore important for prosthodontics to address oral frailty and dysphagia as a part of oral health management and dysphagia rehabilitation. A transdisciplinary team approach involved medical and dental professionals is essential for dysphagia rehabilitation. Dentists are very welcome to join because the oral function management including prosthodontics is limited to dentists. Therefore, prosthodontics in near future should have the new strategy from the perspective of supporting patients’ life through oral function and meal, instead of the conventional strategy such as the reconstruction of occlusion.