Dentists will likely find a shift in demand for their services as the baby boomer generation ages.
Some estimates suggest that those over the age of 65 will account for even more than 20 percent of the national population by 2030, as the age group is currently the fastest-growing in the United States. Some analysts say that older people with limited access to care are less likely to schedule regular dental visits, Dentistry IQ notes.
The news source notes that oral health often deteriorates among the elderly living in long-term care facilities. Hygiene is commonly neglected, especially among the cognitively impaired or functionally dependent. The percentage of the elderly who fit those criteria is expected to rise in the coming years.
The way care is provided may need to change in order to reach this growing population, or else their dental health could deteriorate rapidly. Dentists should consider whether they will lose patients who become less able or unable to travel to reach their practice unaided.
It may be possible for some to partner with long-term care facilities in order to meet the oral health needs of their residents.
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