Geriatrics and Gerontology

Biography

Biography: Tania e Silva Pulicano Lacerda

Abstract

This work aims at presenting the singularities of Alzheimer patients in regards to their prosthetic rehabilitation. In order to recognize such challenges since the very beginning, professionals must establish a clear interdisciplinary communication with patients as well as their family members and caretakers. In general, techniques for making dentures and implants for such patient are the same used in a healthy one. However, what needs to be recognized is in the stage of the disease: The patient can have masticator and swallowing dysfunctions which may demand parenteral nutrition. Thus, the planning of treatments will be altered according to the general physical state of the patient, his or her degree of dependence on others and life expectancy. In later stages, masticatory and swallowing functions have to be observed, once the patient may develop dysphagia needing for example to remove the inferior prosthesis. Taking into account the difficulties of hygiene that these patients may encounter due to restriction in their motor and cognitive skills, periodical evaluations of their oral health, teeth when present and mucosa are extremely important. As a final remark, an interdisciplinary approach will be focused: The nutritionist can suggest proper diets based on the time patients have been using the prosthesis, adding in a lot of cases, supplements to avoid malnutrition. Furthermore, one cannot forget the muscles involved in the entire process as well as the necessity of having the support of a speech pathologist that will help by guaranteeing a better masticatory efficiency.