Oral Health and Dental Management

Oral health and dental treatment for people with dementia

29^th Euro Congress and Expo on Dental and Oral Health

October 27, 2021 WEBINAR

Alexander Schembri

University of Malta, Malta

Keynote: OHDM

Abstract:

People with dementia may no longer have or will reach a stage when they no longer have the ability to voice their needs for oral care and treatment, carry out daily oral hygiene to a level that prevents disease, make informed choice and give valid consent for treatment. This may have a negative effect on the oral health of the individual and on the quality of life. Thus to contribute to maintain an acceptable quality of life of persons with dementia, the dental team has the specific role to keep them free of oral infections, restore their dentition, so they can enjoy eating and maintain speech and aesthetics as long as possible. With the COVID-19 pandemic the specific needs of these persons was further highlighted.

Biography :

Alexander Schembri graduated in 1989 Bachelor of Dental Surgery, post graduate diploma in Gerodontology and Geriatrics in 1993 and Masters in Gerodontology and Geriatrics in 2003 from the University of Malta. He was an Inducted fellow of FICD in 2016. He is the founder member of the Maltese Association of Geriatrics and Gerodontology. He is the past president of the European College of Gerodontology in 2016/17. He is also a visiting lecturer at University of Malta and responsible for the teaching of Gerodontology; Author of the children’s book Id-dentatura tan-nanna (Grandma’s dentures); Awarded’ Best Elderly Oral Healthcare Initiative at the Oral Health & Dentistry in 2018. He was also a speaker for various international conferences and also awarded the best poster presentation.