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Published: September 2018

As governments worldwide are under pressure to integrate new demographic trends into policy-making, especially in health, the Oral Health for an Ageing Population (OHAP) project seeks to establish the fundamental role of oral health professionals in healthy longevity. This roadmap provides key information on the phenomenon of global ageing and its implications for oral healthcare services (OHCS). In addition, the roadmap contains a range of possible strategies and actions different stakeholders can implement to meet the needs of older adults with different levels of dependency, based on an adapted Seattle Care Pathway, also referred to as the Lucerne Care Pathway.

References: 

1. Survey on oral conditions in ageing populations.

2. Defining a precise age-range for an “ageing” or “aged” or “older” or “old” population is globally difficult. Depending on countries, settings and sensitivities, a person might be considered to be “old” at 50, 60, 70, or 80 years...or never! For the sake of clarity, the age ranges used in this document are those used by the UN and WHO in the documents related to Ageing.

3. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2015). World Population Ageing, 2015 (ST/ESA/SER.A/390).

4. United Nations World Population Prospects 2017. Data available from: 

5. Müller F, Shimazaki Y, Kahabuka F and Schimmel M, “Oral health for an ageing population: the importance of a natural dentition in older adults”, International Dental Journal 67 (October 1, 2017): 7-13.

6. Ibid.

7. Hyde S, Dupuis V, Mariri B-P and Dartevelle S, “Prevention of tooth loss and dental pain for reducing the global burden of oral diseases”, International Dental Journal 67 (October 1, 2017): 19-25.

8. Marcenes W, Kassebaum NJ, Bernabe E, et al. "Global burden of oral conditions in 1990-2010: a systematic analysis". Journal of Dental Research 2013 92(7): 592–597.

9. The shortened dental arch concept, which led to the Japanese “8020 Movement” (ie presence of at least 20 natural teeth at the age of 80), suggests that two occlusion units on either side provide sufficient oral function (ibid).

10. Hyde S, Dupuis V, Mariri B-P and Dartevelle S, “Prevention of tooth loss and dental pain for reducing the global burden of oral diseases”, International Dental Journal 67 (October 1, 2017): 19-25.

11. Kassebaum NJ, Bernabe E, Dahiya M, et al. "Global burden of severe periodontitis in 1990-2020: a systematic review and meta-regression". Journal of Dental Research 2014 93(11): 1045–1053.

12. Kassebaum NJ, Bernabe E, Dahiya M, et al. "Global burden of untreated caries: a systematic review and metaregression". Journal of Dental Research 2015 94(5): 650–658.

13. Walston J, Hadley EC, Ferrucci L, Guralnik JM, Newman AB, Studenski SA et al. Research agenda for frailty in older adults: toward a better understanding of physiology and etiology: summary from the American Geriatrics Society/National Institute on Aging Research Conference on Frailty in Older Adults. Journal of American Geriatric Society 2006; 54 (6): 991–1001.

14. Pretty I-A, Ellwood R-P, Lo E-C-M, MacEntee M-I et al, “The Seattle Care Pathway for securing oral health in older patients”. Gerodontology 2014; 31 (Suppl. 1): 77–87.

15. CSHA refers to the “Canadian Study of Health and Aging”. Original article by Rockwood K, Song X, MacKnight Ch et al, A global clinical measure of fitness and frailty in elderly people, CMAJ 2005; 173 (5): 489-495.

16. Ibid.

17. Hyde S, Dupuis V, Mariri B-P and Dartevelle S, “Prevention of tooth loss and dental pain for reducing the global burden of oral diseases”, International Dental Journal 67 (October 1, 2017): 19-25.

18. Ghezzi E-M, Kobayashi K, Park D-Y, Srisilapanan P, “Oral healthcare systems for an ageing population: concepts and challenges”, International Dental Journal 67 (October 1, 2017): 26-33.

19. Ibid.

20. Fukai K, Ogawa H, Hescot P, “Oral health for healthy longevity in an ageing society: maintaining momentum and moving forward, International Dental Journal 67 (October 1, 2017): 3-6.